Five Easy Ways to Have Your Profile Overlooked by Potential Employers

We all know that a profile, resume or CV is the first impression you make on a potential employer, so you'll want it to stand out. My experience sifting through countless advert responses and referrals is that the majority of applicants are putting in the effort, but are making simple mistakes or just not focusing their energy in the right place. Here are five common mistakes I see all the time to avoid:

1. Missing Job Titles, Locations, or Company Names: Believe it or not, I see this fairly often. I've seen all three mistakes on separate resumes just this morning. I'm unsure if it is an intentional move to bait a hiring manager or recruiter into a phone call or just a simple mistake. Either way, this should be avoided as at best it will only lead to an awkward conversation and eventual rejection.
2. Missing Education Dates, or Majors: For the same reasons Don't leave employers guessing about your educational background, especially if it is critical to the role. Include your degree(s) and major(s) on your resume as well as the date of completion.
3. Narrative Text Walls: Long paragraphs detailing your experience are hard to read especially when creating a shortlist from tens or hundreds of applicants. Even if it is relevant and well-written the truth is most recruiters and hiring managers simply don't have the time to read it. At best they will skim through for relevant skills which can lead to them overlooking some of your best accomplishments, at worst they will skip over your resume entirely/
4. Not Tailoring: Unless you're planning on taking the shotgun approach and applying to every job out there, you know there is a halfway decent reason you think you're a fit for the role: make sure your resume communicates this.
5. Empty Bragging: Listing technical skills without evidence might get your resume seen more often, but not backing this up with the educational, professional, or accreditation for the skill will only lead to a prolonged rejection. If you claim proficiency in a technical skill, mention the accreditation, professional or educational setting for proof.

By avoiding these five pitfalls, you'll not only generate more interest in your profile but you can also save time skipping screening calls and interviews that will only lead to rejection.

Feeling stuck? I'll break down solutions for each of these in my next article.