You may think you have the “perfect” résumé, but a hiring manager — who is looking for specific things — may disagree. Here are seven reasons why your résumé may have been rejected:
1. Too much focus on background and experience that is irrelevant to the position. If you’re in your 50s or 60s, you may be wondering whether to include all your job experience on your résumé. The truth is: it depends.
Are you returning to the workforce after staying home for many years? If so, part- time jobs; work you did in, or right out of, college and volunteering can round out your résumé and show the skills you’ve obtained. On the other hand, if you have decades of continual experience, give your résumé a haircut. Here are a few items to consider trimming:
Work experience that’s more than a decade old Jobs where the skills you used aren’t relevant for the position you’re applying for Irrelevant hobbies and interestsIf you think it’s important to include some of these, make references to them as short as possible. For example, rather than eliminating a job entry entirely, simply list the name of the employer, your job title and the years you worked there.
2. Missing keyword phrases that résumé scanners demand. Before your résumé ever reaches an HR person or hiring manager, it probably will be scanned for certain keyword phrases. Many companies use scanning software to take some of the workload off their staff. If your résumé doesn’t contain the right keywords, it may be rejected before a human could ever see it.
Customize your résumé for each job opening by inserting relevant keywords. These can be pulled from the job listing itself, industry publications and other sources. A company such as JobScan can help ensure that your résumé is optimized for resume robots.
3. Your résumé doesn’t match your other application materials. If a hiring manager decides to dig a little deeper, it’s important that everything you present adds up. Your résumé, cover letter, even your references combine to create an overall impression of who you are.
Be sure everything you present to a potential employer is consistent. If you need help keeping your messaging on track, there are resources such as Hudson and ResumesCentre, which offer résumé and cover letter writing assistance, templates and career advice.
4. Leaving inappropriate content on your social media accounts. If you’ve developed a professional presence on social media, you should include information about your social media accounts on your résumé. But…if you have written or shared content that might be viewed as offensive or controversial, that could seriously harm your chances of getting hired. Get rid of it.
5. Failing to focus on what you can contribute. Save remarks about pay, benefits and advancement potential for the negotiations phase. Your résumé should be all about what you can bring to the table. What skills do you have? What have you done at your current employer or previous employers to improve the bottom line or help things run better?
Show proof! Don’t just say that you improved processes in customer service. Say that you created a program that led to a 25% improvement in customer satisfaction for over-the-phone support.
6. Typos and poor editing. There’s no room for spelling or grammar goofs in your résumé. Fortunately, there are plenty of tools you can use to produce error-free résumés, such as ProWritingAid. You might also consider having a friend or family member take a glance at your résumé, too. A second set of eyes may catch mistakes or awkward wording that you missed.
7. Résumé formatting and content that isn’t a cultural fit. The way your résumé looks and reads should be appropriate for the employer where you’re applying. If you are going for a job where creativity and diversity are valued, find ways to emphasize in your résumé items that show your relevance. Your cover letter also provides an excellent opportunity to demonstrate cultural fit.
