You've searched for jobs; you've sent out hundreds of cover letters and resumes; but you have not received any calls or emails about the position. So what's wrong?
Check Your Resume Over with a Fine Tooth Comb
The first impression the potential employer and interviewer sees is your resume and cover letter. So if you are not getting any calls to those places where you've sent your resume, it's time to take a long, hard look at what you're sending out.
First of all, check for any and all typos or spelling mistakes, or glaring grammar mistakes. Nothing will get your resume tossed aside faster than errors. If you can't take the time to create a perfectly spelled and typed business document when you have the time, what impression are you giving the employer about how you'll work under pressure?
Format the Presentation
Put your resume away. Now, take it out and look at it quickly. What's your first impression of it? Too much white space? Too many words? Looks too crowded? Does the font hurt your eyes as you quickly scan the resume – can you read any important words that would apply to the job as you quickly scan?
Many resumes get put to the bottom of the pile due to fancy, but hard-to-read fonts. Always choose a simple font such as Arial or Times New Roman. And make sure the size is 12 – you can get away with 11, but 10 is too small for someone reading mounds of paperwork – and your resume is part of that paperwork.
If your resume looks too crowded, then you probably are trying too hard to put all your information into this document. Point form is fine, but don't try to point out every detail of every job. Get rid of unnecessary wordings – if you worked as a cashier, it is irrelevant to say you worked with cash. It would be more relevant to say "in charge of $500 float for both opening and closing" – now you've told them you were trusted with important duties involving money.
If your resume has too little information, here's your chance to shine! You most likely are a student, or someone re-entering the workforce. So tell them more about your accomplishments – what are YOU proud of that you've done. What can you bring to the company – enthusiasm and a willingness to learn? While some of this information could also be placed in a cover letter – think outside the box – and put in a bit more about yourself. It will get you noticed in a pile of standard resumes.
Bottom Line
It's always difficult to correct our own work, so have a close friend or relative go over your resume – even just for another set of eyes to proofread for typing errors or spelling/grammatical errors. Ask them what they think of the set up of your resume, and don't take it personally. A fresh look at your business document is what you need to improve your rate of calls for interviews!
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