Number 3 – “If you include it, you look like you are still living in, like, 1970.”

Hey! I was around in 1970; and, NO it was not the norm “back then” to include such info. The only resumes that include such info were, and still are, actors and other entertainers who also have to include head shots with their resume because “looks” are a part of the job requirements. Now if you had said the 1940s maybe I wouldn’t have been so bothered by your “out of touch” comment.

Number 4 – I do include links to my professional web page as that is where they can download samples of my training materials (I am a software trainer). Most of these materials are computer based (i.e. Flash or PowerPoint files) which do not translate well to simple paper copies. By including the link the hiring folks can look at my samples before the interview. This way they have a better idea of my skills and experience when they interview me.

What I think should be added is that when one does provide a link to a professional page that page must be current. Last year, I was working on a temp assignment and was asked to review some resumes for others temps to join our project. I quickly found at least half of the resumes that included a link to a page where the webpage resume did not match the paper resume that I had in my hand. I am not talking about a few words here or there. It was whole jobs missing from the experience section.

When my manager actually brought one of these folks in for an interview anyway I asked the job candidate why the resume did not match (it was missing his last job). He said that he did not “get around to updating” his web page. The job missing from the web page resume had ended over two months before. Thinking that he was involved in another work assignment, I asked him why it was two months later and he still had not updated his webpage. No, he admitted that last job on the paper copy was his most recent assignment; but that a friend of his created the webpage for him and getting that friend to update the page was bothersome.

This reminds me of Number 6 – Deception. This job candidate did not claim anywhere to have created his web page. But, it was rather simple and had a “home-made” quality about it leaving the impression that he I did it himself. If I had not “pressed” him on this I think my manager might have very well assumed that the job candidate created it himself. I don’t know if this was intential deception or not – but it was one more (in a series) of strikes against him.

As for spell cheque, your sew write. Its knot a substitute for god old-fashion proofreading.

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My favorite remains the cover letter that began, “Marketing is a discipline in a period of great change of which it is still evolving.” I still wonder what that actually means, if anything at all.

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If it’s that thing that some resume books tell you to do that has stuff like “Excellent verbal and written communication skills” or “Team player who works well with all levels of staff,” that space can be better filled with your actual achievements (unless you’re right out of college and have a really short resume that needs puff to make it a full page). It should be stuff that is unique to you, not stuff that is just a list of generally fabulous things that apply to most people (at least when they’re job hunting…like, I’ve never seen anyone who didn’t think they had Excellent Verbal and Written Communication Skills).

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