Five Resume Myths That Are Hurting Your Job Search

A quick Google search for "career advice" returns over 15 million hits. That's a lot of career advice. And, as you would imagine, some of the it is good, and some of it...well...leaves a lot to be desired. In this series, I will delve into the pieces of advice that are outdated, unsubstantiated, or just flat-out wrong. First up: resumes.

1. A resume should only be one page: A resume can be over one page if your experience allows. If you are a professional with over three years experience in one field, it's entirely possible to have a resume over one page. Recent college graduates, however, will most likely have a one-page resume unless extensive experience in college calls for two. A resume beyond two pages is dicey, though, unless you are a senior executive (vice president or above) or are creating a curriculum vitae.

2. A resume should only list positions chronologically: This is a myth to an extent, as many job-seekers will use functional resumes to try and hide gaps in their employment (a big no-no). However, it is entirely acceptable to highlight first those jobs that most directly relate to the applied-for position. In the past I created two resume sections - "Related Experience" and "Other Experience" - to highlight the experience that was directly relevant to the position and then my other experience that could indirectly contribute. My job history was maintained, but I directed employer to what was most important to them at the top.

3. Every resume should be in a Times New Roman font: With the ubiquitousness of Times New Roman, the look of your resume could suffer if you use this font as it will not stand out. There are plenty of great alternatives depending on your needs, such as Garamond  High Tower Text, Tahoma, Arial, Calibri, Georgia, and Verdana. These fonts will make your resume visually pleasing without being caustic or extreme. Which leads us to our fourth myth...

4. Use a "creative" resume to stand out: Unless your job field calls for it (graphic design, fashion, game design, or other typically creative fields), a creative resume with extensive use of charts and graphics is not recommended. While a creative resume in a creative field will highlight your work and expertise, one outside of those fields will come off as distracting and unprofessional.

5. Every job you ever had should be on your resume: Many people do not understand that a resume is a marketing document, not a chronologic history of every single job they ever had. That position in high school when you are now 45-years-old? Keep it off. Most resumes - except for extreme circumstances - should profile only your last 15-20 years of work experience.

These are five resume myths, but there are most certainly more. What resume myths have you encountered? List them - with an explanation of why they are myths - below in the comments. Or, if you have a question about whether or not something is a myth, leave a comment about that, too.

Should you Have your Resume Critiqued?

I volunteered at a networking event yesterday where I offered free resume critiques to job seekers who had been displaced. Each person that sat down at the table with me had previously asked another "resume professional" to evaluate their resume prior to talking with me. Every one of them had been given information that was different (and often just flat-out wrong) than what I suggested.

If you follow my blog posts, you have probably heard me say that resumes are as subjective as beauty. Everyone has different opinions and different preferences. However, instead of nitpicking your use of font and whether you use circles or squares for your bullets, let's look at the fundamentals that you must ask yourself about your resume.

Is your Resume Clear and Focused?
Within the first few seconds of looking at your resume, often in the first line of the summary section, an employer should have no doubt regarding your job target. Never use a generic or vague objective statement. This will cause some employers to stop reading immediately.

Do you Clearly State the Benefit you Can Offer an Employer?
Companies hire to either fill a need or solve a problem. Clearly convey what will make you cost-effective to the employer. Focus on your return on investment or ROI. After reading your resume, they should have a clear understanding of how you will earn the money they will pay you.

Does your Resume Contain Measurable Accomplishments?
Use your previous measurable accomplishments to demonstrate the value you can bring to an employer. It is no longer enough to state you have a skill, prove it to them with past examples.

Is your Resume Error-free?
One spelling error, one misused word, or one mistake can often be enough for an employer to take a pass on calling you. Think of your resume as a paper representation of you. If you are applying for a position that requires attention to detail and professionalism with a resume full of errors, chances are you will not be successful.


So, to answer the original question, should you have your resume critiqued? The answer is yes, but do it in moderation and don't make knee-jerk reactions to every single thing they tell you. Don't show it to every "expert" you come across. Also, ensure the person who is looking at your resume is qualified to do so. Look for Certified Resume Writers (yes such a thing does exist) and listen to how they talk about the job search process to ensure their knowledge and information is up-to-date.