6 Common Resume Questions & Answers

Resumes have withstood the test of time. So many years later, they are still as relevant as ever. And still, so many people struggle or hesitate when updating their resumes.

?If you are one of those people, worry no more. We have compiled a list of commonly asked questions about writing a resume — and the answers, of course. Dive right in!

?Resume Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

?1.?What’s the Ideal Length for a Resume?

The standard length is one page. Even if you don’t have much work experience, you can work something out. However, one page might be too little for you, especially if you have garnered many skills and accomplishments over the years.

?In that case, you might have to go slightly over one page. However, keep in mind that the recruiter might not bother getting to the second page.

?Therefore, strive to make the most use of the first page. If you struggle to squeeze everything into one page, you can resort to a professional resume builder.

?2. Are Dates Important?

Are you worried that you have some gaps in your employment track record? If you have gaps, you might think about covering them up by not including the dates.

?But that’s a big mistake that could cost you dearly. Once a recruiter notices dates are missing in your resume, they instantly grow suspicious. Our advice: don’t hide the dates - explain.

?3.?How Specific Should I be?

That depends on the position you are applying for a job. Some will need particular skills, while others don’t.

?For instance, if you are applying for a job as a nurse, you will need a specific skill set. But we can’t say the same for the position of a call centre representative.

?Therefore, understand what the employer is looking for before creating your resume.

?4.?What Information is Irrelevant?

Some people make the mistake of including irrelevant information on their resumes. Irrelevant because the recruiter doesn’t need it to make the final decision.

?For instance, your marital status or age has nothing to do with your candidacy. Therefore, it would be best to leave it off.

?However, be keen to include all relevant information, such as your educational background and contact details.

?5.?Which is the Best Resume Format?

As you might know, there are three most common resume formats. There as chronological, functional, and combination (or hybrid) formats. Recruiter-focused, column, and premium are others [See all these at https://cvjury.com/cv-templates/].

?Narrowing it down to one depends on a few things.

?The wisest thing to do would be to find out which resume formats align with your industry and work experience.

?6.?Which are some of the Words I should Avoid?

This is a not-so-common question because most people focus on the keywords they should include. But it’s important to know that some words are overused in the job application arena.

?Some of them are too generic and will turn the recruiter off. We list some classic examples below. We don’t dispute that you have these skills. But they are overused. Instead, you can cite examples that demonstrate these skills.

?There is no need to waste your profile space on these 14 overused words:

1. ?Creative
2. Driven
3. Energetic
4. Experienced
5. Expert
6. Innovative
7. Leader
8. Motivated
9. Passionate
10. Skilled
11. Specialised
12. Strategic
13. Successful
14. Trustworthy

?Instead, use a thesaurus to find alternatives or, better yet, show you have those qualities with an example or a quick story. Show. Don’t tell!

?Alternatives to use

The choice will depend on the context in which you’re using the word.

?1.?Creative – Imaginative, talented, resourceful, original, visionary, accomplished, adept, original, endowed, ingenious, adroit, inventive, fanciful

2.?Driven – Guided, led, powered, pushed, propelled, moved, spurred, induced, compelled, obligated, required

?3.?Energetic – Vigorous, dynamic, eclectic, active, eager, ready to go, lively, spirited, vibrant, robust, exertive

?4.?Experienced – Polished, proficient, adept, good (at), versed, qualified, well-grounded, able, seasoned, sophisticated

5.?Expert – Specialist, authority, scholar(ly), proficient, adept, learned, well-versed, well-informed?

6.?Innovative – Novel, modern, revolutionary, transformative

?7.?Leader – Head, chief, doyen, principal, director, superior, manager, overseer, supervisor, superintendent, forerunner, lead runner, point man, guard, vanguard, spearhead, trailblazer, pioneer, inspirer

8.?Motivated – Moved, fired, prompted, provoked, inflamed, enkindled, instigated, triggered impelled, pushed, propelled spurred influenced, persuaded, induced, stimulated, powered, encouraged, enticed, urged

?9.?Passionate – Impassioned, ardent, vehement, zealous, eager, enthusiastic, enthused, excited, inspired, dynamic, high-powered

?10.?Skilled – Talented, gifted, ready, qualified, endowed, apt, conversant, learned

?11.??Specialised – Concentrated, exclusive, limited, narrow, peculiar, restricted, unique, authoritative

?12.??Strategic – Tactical, calculated, well-thought-out, prudent, significant, crucial, decisive, key, vital, fundamental, integral

?13.??Successful – Flourishing, thriving, blooming, growing, burgeoning, profitable, gainful, productive, cost-effective, fruitful, impressive, renowned, well-known, advancing

?14.?Trustworthy – Reliable, dependable, responsible, credible, steadfast, constant, enduring, lasting, staunch, resolute, unswerving, unwavering, stable, solid, strong, supportive, devoted, patriotic, dedicated, dutiful, obedient, truthful

?RELATED

1. https://cvjury.com/14-tips-on-writing-effective-linkedin-summary/
2. Use the power of a 30-60-90-day plan during interviews

Bonus Tip

There is no room for sloppy work when creating your resume. Even if you do everything else right, check for errors. And we don’t mean typos. Check the tone, the order of dates, and everything else.

What do you think?

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