Be honest about your resume. (Image by Stuart Miles)
I don’t believe in going all Dr. Phil on people, but the one area in which I feel compelled to use some tough love is resume dishonesty. This is because job seekers often tell themselves lies about their resumes.
Here are some common fibs that people tell me:
Here are some common fibs that people tell me:
“I’m applying for jobs online, but I’m not getting any interviews. Obviously, it’s a waste of time to apply online—the only way you can get a job is through networking.”
“I found an English major on Craig’s List and paid her $20 to edit my resume, so I know that it doesn’t have any mistakes.”
“I had a couple of friends review my resume, and they told me it looks good.”
The last two lies, by the way, are akin to saying to a doctor, “I showed my mole to a few pharmaceutical reps, and they said it looked OK, so I know I don’t have cancer.”
Now, why would job seekers tell themselves these kinds of lies? I believe that it’s because a resume is a very personal document, and it feels uncomfortable to have qualified people tell you that you need to change something so personal. It feels much less threatening to ask for advice from people who are not qualified to give it.
So, if you’re not getting interviews, I encourage you to have your resume reviewed by people who are qualified to give you valuable feedback:
* Direct hiring managers in the field in which you work
* Your previous managers
* Senior colleagues or other managers with whom you worked
* Recruiters who specialize in your field
* A professional resume writer with formal training in copyediting (you will recoup the costs of a professional resume review in just one day on the job).
Be honest with yourself about your resume: A little tough love will ensure that you have a resume that gets you interviews.
“I found an English major on Craig’s List and paid her $20 to edit my resume, so I know that it doesn’t have any mistakes.”
“I had a couple of friends review my resume, and they told me it looks good.”
The last two lies, by the way, are akin to saying to a doctor, “I showed my mole to a few pharmaceutical reps, and they said it looked OK, so I know I don’t have cancer.”
Now, why would job seekers tell themselves these kinds of lies? I believe that it’s because a resume is a very personal document, and it feels uncomfortable to have qualified people tell you that you need to change something so personal. It feels much less threatening to ask for advice from people who are not qualified to give it.
So, if you’re not getting interviews, I encourage you to have your resume reviewed by people who are qualified to give you valuable feedback:
* Direct hiring managers in the field in which you work
* Your previous managers
* Senior colleagues or other managers with whom you worked
* Recruiters who specialize in your field
* A professional resume writer with formal training in copyediting (you will recoup the costs of a professional resume review in just one day on the job).
Be honest with yourself about your resume: A little tough love will ensure that you have a resume that gets you interviews.
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