If you have been applying to jobs regularly but you are not hearing anything back from hiring managers, it’s easy to get discouraged. It’s hard to know why you aren’t getting calls, but the first place to look is your resume. You could be making some mistakes that are easy for even the most seasoned veteran to make, so if your search has stalled, check for these potential errors.
Your Resume Isn’t Easy To Read
Hiring managers simply do not have the time to read overly lengthy resumes. You can do yourself (and the hiring manager) a favor by simplifying your document and making it easy to read. Make sure that you are using a crisp font no less than 10 point and no larger than 12 point, that you use bulleted lists, and you structure the resume so that your most relevant skills and experience are on page one.
It is also important to keep your resume as concise as possible. This can be a challenge if you have been working for a long time or if you have a lot of contract work in your job history. Just make sure your most relevant experience is on page one and less-critical information is on page two. Also eliminate skills and experience that are outdated, as they just take up critical space.
You Are Not Customizing Your Resume
Using the same resume for every job is a mistake that most job seekers make. To set yourself up for success, you should customize it for the role you are applying for.
It is important to stress the skills and experience that the company lists and make sure to incorporate keywords from the job posting. It is acceptable to omit skills, projects and other information that are not aligned with the specific role.
You List Responsibilities, Not Value
This is another very common error that almost all job seekers make. Hiring managers don’t care about your job description – they want to know how you brought value in that particular role. Therefore, don’t simply list out your duties and tasks. Instead, paint a picture of how your technical skills helped the company achieve its goals.
You Include Confidential Information
Employers cannot ask you about things related to your personal life, so don’t volunteer that information on your resume. Remove any references to your age (including graduation dates), religious affiliation, marital status, parental status or political affiliation.
You Do Not Proofread
Hiring managers don’t expect you to turn in a work of literature, but they do want to see attention to detail. Grammatical errors and spelling mistakes can instantly disqualify you. Run spelling and grammar checks but also have at least two people you trust to review your resume before you press “send.”
Has Your Engineering Job Search Stalled?
If you are an engineer seeking new job opportunities, contact the engineering recruiting experts at Selectek today. We can help you improve your resume to catch the attention of hiring managers and we can match you with your ideal opportunity.
