Comments on: 7 Resume Landmines That Can Blow Up AFTER an Interview

By: 10 Steps To Match Your Resume to the Job

10 Steps To Match Your Resume to the Job — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 13:16:59 +0000

[...] And so let me say this (cyber) loud and clear: To the best of your ability…PLEASE customize your resume to the job you’re applying for. And if anyone tells you not to or says the resume is dead…as this other site was in effect doing…don’t believe them. Even in this ill-designed, ridiculously-frustrating hiring process, your resume is still one of your strongest marketing tools and its job can continue even AFTER a screener sees it. [...]

By: Avoiding Resume Mistakes: When It Comes to Resumes Sweat the Small Stuff | Work Coach Cafe

Sun, 11 Jul 2010 20:27:07 +0000

[...] Steve, a talented albeit painfully unemployed writer and editor, couldn’t see that his own resume was undermining his job search efforts. Yet it only took me a few seconds – and a fresh set of eyes – to see why he wasn’t getting more than an occasional interview. Or even if he did manage to get called in for the first interview, why he might not be getting asked back since resumes have a life well beyond the first interview. [...]

By: Ronnie Ann

Ronnie Ann — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:01:35 +0000

Thanks Polina! You’re so right…it does seem ridiculous. But our shared truth aside…barring any miraculous epiphanies, it’s up to us to help them “get it” by the way we shape our materials and present ourselves.

By: Polina

Polina — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:54:23 +0000

Great article! I’ve always been somewhat puzzled by the “over qualification” aspect of not getting hired. I’m nowhere near that point, but it seems ridiculous to me that a company wouldn’t hire someone when they’re clearly competent AND expressing interest in the position.

By: Ronnie Ann

Ronnie Ann — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:55:38 +0000

Hello Lena!

How nice to see your beautiful e-face here. Oh dear…scary fonts!

I think there’s a little wiggle room when it comes to how far back to go. For me, I go as far back as my most useful experience goes, but no more than 10-15 years I think. And that’s totally acceptable – nary a flag raised unless they are really looking for one and then it’s probably not the place you want anyway.

Definitely a case for using those targeted bullet points in a summary section at the top (uh…below your contact info, of course). And if there’s some remnant stuff you really really want to include, then a small summary lump of info at the end – but only things that get you to the next job…otherwise let them all go. As I mentioned in the article, the whole resume and cover letter should be aimed at where you want to go more than where you’ve been.

Now you’ve gotten me curious. Feel free to write me with any juicy details. Of course, it means I might write back with my own.

Peaec out and in,
Ronnie Ann

By: Lena N

Lena N — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:12:04 +0000

Hi, Ronnie. I have been agonizing over what do about my resume which features some very scary fonts. I appreciate this information and am going to use it as I prepare a new one.

A question — how far back in work experience does one need to go? I used to hear 10 years but that would seem to raise a red flag.

Thanks, Ronnie Ann.

By: Ronnie Ann

Ronnie Ann — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:21:13 +0000

Thanks Terry B and Sharon! Appreciate your adding wisdom to the conversation. So interesting how much we might not think about when we send our resumes out.

When I first started out, to me a resume was little more than an afterthought. I mean…they had to know anyway how great I was! But especially in this ultra-competitive market, it pays to give it your all.

Ronnie Ann

By: Sharon McLaughlin

Sharon McLaughlin — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:06:00 +0000

You made great points. It is neccessary to tailor your resume to each position you are applying for as this will minimize the pitfalls you listed.

By: Terry B, Blue Kitchen

Terry B, Blue Kitchen — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:04:37 +0000

Lots of solid advice here, Ronnie Ann. And you touched on one key annoyance to me in resumes I’ve reviewed on occasion: Irrelevant personal information. Until I’ve hired you and we’re chatting over coffee one day, I don’t need to know that you’re married or that you collect stamps or that you’re in a choral group. Unless I’m hiring you as a marriage counselor, a postal worker or a singing waiter.