Many job seekers naively stuff too much information into a resume to attempt to communicate their qualifications for a position. Unfortunately this ‘extra information’ may hinder efforts. Recruiters look for hard facts in a resume – the warm, fuzzy, “…tell us more about you…” comes later in an interview. Here are some facts about how too much information in a resume could hinder a job seeker.
Read more: Top 10 things not to have on your resume and 10 alternatives.
Years ago I came up with a list of self-defeating behaviors that can sabotage efforts to becoming employed. A colleague’s advice was to flip all of my statements into desired behaviors or proposed actions that could correct the problems, so I did. Funny thing, but I haven’t seen a huge change in many people’s approach, even with the availability of volumes of career advice.
“I feel like the resume is a good book I want to read again. It looked great the first time, but I know I’ll get more out of it when I read through it several more times.”
The above quote was the BEST gift I could have received during any given business day – any day at all, in fact.
I recently assisted job seekers who were scouring some of the larger job boards, as well as Craig’s list for jobs to which they could apply. One came to me with a joy of accomplishment on her face, noting, “I got a job!” She explained a ‘guy’ has parents with Alzheimer’s who wants a babysitter for a few hours weekly for $800 a week.
A terrible analogy, I’m sorry. But with the slumping job market, and growing list of outrageous hiring tactics that companies are using to source new hires, one can’t help but feel like we’re under the Big Top watching a painful performance at the circus. When are hiring companies going too far?
Read more: Dance Jobseekers …Dance! Are Hiring Companies Going Too Far?
