Resume Blunders

For me, the time has come to find a real job.  I am graduating in May (I think) and I would love to come out of college with a job all lined up.  So, i have been attending seminars, career fairs, and googling tips to help me get a job. So I have compiled a nice list of resume tips that I have come across.  Most come from MSN Careers and Brad Karsh, who came to Illinois a few weeks ago.

1. Be specific. Put specific tasks you completed on your resume.  Don't just use a generic job description for your past employment positions, put something that makes you stand out.

2. No Picture! Unless you are a model or a reporter for a beauty magazine, you don't really need a picture. Of course, it depends on who is looking at your resume, however, the picture is slightly irrelevant.

3. Don't try to be creative. A resume in a shoe because you are "trying to get your foot in the door' is NOT cute.  It sounds cute, but it will make you the laughing stock of the human resources department.

4. Leadership experiences are great!  Your experience section in your resume should only read "Experience not "work Expereience" because you want to include leadership opportunities, projects, or experiences you had that are relevant to your future job.

5. Leave off your references.  Most employers will ask for references if they want them, however if you would lie to send them in, you should put them on a separate sheet.

Resumes are very important because you have about 2 seconds to catch the attention of the recruiter looking through them.  Each person goes through at least 100 per day, most likely way more than that.  So, make your resume easy to read, and put the important stuff at the top. It does not have to be chronological, because if you put your most relevant experience at the bottom the person reading your resume may not even get there.  There are tons of tips for a great resume out there in the world, so do your own research, or do what works for you. Either way, good luck!