Don’t Fake That Resume!

…..and I have extensive experience writing

Despite how many times you hear it, and despite how wrong we all should know it is to lie on a resume, people do it all the time. It could be a white lie such as including a software application in your Skills section that you demoed for five minutes, or it could be a flat out work of glorious fiction. Whatever the case, don’t do it.

Hey, I know you need a job. So do I, and others. But lying to get your foot in the door is not only wrong, but dangerous, especially in an employer’s market.

Companies hiring in an economic climate like we have today (for the history books: it’s downright crappy) have their pick of the litter. They will screen dozens if not hundreds of resumes looking for a few excellent choices. They will look hard at past experience, skills, education and other factoids to find the candidates that truly wow them. While you can lie, fib, take creative license, or stretch the truth on your resume to make it stand out and wow companies, remember: If you win an interview, you need to walk the talk.

Nothing burns deeper when job hunting than to be caught in a lie during the interview. It’s an instant “no” for the interviewer, it’s highly memorable, and it’s great gossip. Recruiters talk and network constantly, as do HR personnel. And nothing breaks the ice better than “you’ll never believe the interview I had last week”. While comical stories are thrown around openly and playfully, the word of a liar spreads in confidence and sincerity among their trusted peers.

So how do you create that winning resume without stretching the truth and potentially blacklisting yourself in the process?

First, you need to figure out what you want, other than “a job”, because that’s a given. With that said, get rid of your Objective statement. No one reads them, because the majority of them say the same boring thing.

Objective: To obtain a job where I can leverage my skills and grow to be a valued part of an organization.

Ok, so the wording may vary from resume to resume, but that’s about what they all say. Boooorrriiinnng. What’s worse is that it says nothing about you! Who are you? What’s your story? Why should I look at your resume and not the many others I have on my desk?

Imagine you’re at a party or event and need to break the ice with someone. You dressed to impress, your hair is neat, and there’s not a detail out of place. You walk up, and the first thing out of your mouth is, “Hi, I’m Bill, and I came here because I was invited and it sounded like fun.” If you can’t visualize the people you approached giving you a blank look and turning away into another conversation then you really ought to get out more.

You want to put your best foot forward right out of the gate. Give them something that immediately grabs their attention, that makes them want to know more, and that keeps them looking at your qualifications. Make them stop in their tracks, get up from their chair and show others your resume in hope that you are The One they are looking for.

Hiring managers and recruiters of any kind usually make up their minds about a candidate within 10-15 seconds of first viewing their resume. If it looks average and uninteresting, then they see you as average and uninteresting. Make it stick.

Some basic tips for writing a better resume:

First, as I mentioned before, ditch the objective. Everyone knows your objective is to land a job, so don’t bother to spin them a story. Remove it completely and replace it with something that is more likely to catch their eye. I often use a Profile section that pitches me to the reader in a few short powerful statements. Other good ideas I’ve seen used include moving the Skills section to the very top of the resume, pairing job ad “wants” with your qualifications, and a few one-line recommendations from notable companies.

Second, make it personal. Use a custom resume whenever possible, this way you can cater to their needs directly. Reorganize your experience, highlight different accomplishments and skills, and use the right buzzwords for the industry and job.

Third – and this mainly applies to those with longer job histories – avoid the chronological format for experience. Instead, include the jobs that best showcase your talents as matched with the job you’re applying for right up front. Or, avoid the job-based format completely and use a skills and accomplishments approach with a simple chronological list of employers at the end of your resume.

Finally, keep it simple. Two pages is plenty, three is your limit. Five is right out. No one will skim more than three pages, and even the most interesting resumes lose their charm after the second page. If you absolutely must bleed over to a third, do so cautiously and ensure that the important information is on the first page where it will be seen.

There are countless other tips out there on the web, in books, magazine articles, from employment services, you name it. But the key to all of them is being seen and standing out. If you can do that, you have a shot. If you can’t, and I hate to say it, but in tough times like these then you really shouldn’t bother.

Got a tip or a question? Please leave a comment!

Tagged as: Careers, Resumes