The earliest known résumé is credited to Leonardo da Vinci, who created it when applying for the position of military engineer for the Duke of Milan. It primarily consists of a list of his designs for siege weapons, including trebuchets. He also included a brief statement about his artistic skills, “In painting, I can do […]
Hiring Managers Divulge The Biggest Resume Mistakes That Cost Someone The Job
Making career moves can be anxiety-inducing.
You’re never really sure what to put on your resume, what to say about why you left your last position or how to really answer the inevitable question about why you want to work there without pointing out the obvious desire for a paycheck.
This would be so much easier if you could just get a peek inside the minds of hiring managers, wouldn’t it?
Wouldn’t you love to know the things they’re actually hoping to see? And the things that they hate so much it makes them automatically disqualify a candidate?
Enter reddit user “ThanosIsMyRealFather” who asked:
“Hiring managers of Reddit, what was something on someone’s CV/resume that made you either immediately want to hire them or immediately reject them?”
So go ahead and make a new folder in your phone for the screenshots you take. We’re going to start with learning what NOT to do.
Too Much Information
“His resume was 14 pages.”
“Granted, it was for a finance position with 5-10 years experience, but there’s only so many different ways you can describe finance responsibilities – and summarizing is a valuable skill.”
“Dude never pitched for the interview.”
– zenaide1
“We had a resume for an internship come through that was double-digit pages long and included his karate accomplishments in 6th grade.”
– mcarneybsa
“24 pages; this mans IT management profile.”
“5 pages was his CV.”
“The other 19 pages was meticulously explaining every project he had done in his 40 years of experience. All the way back to before I was born.”
– magaruis
“I got a 26-page resume once. A lot of it was about his ex-wife.”
“We, uh, didn’t call him.”
– bokodasu
It’s Happened To The Best Of Us
“Their resume included the sentence: ‘I have incredible attention to dealtail.’ ”
– 4sOfCors
“I said that once, in the email body.”
“I then proceeded to forget to attach the CV. So awkward.”
– _ae_
“I had something similar on a resume.”
“I wrote ‘I have great attention to detail’ and then right after I sent it I noticed my name was misspelled.”
– squanchiest-
“Right out of law school I put a ton of emphasis on my attention to detail on my resume.”
“After about six months, one kind soul called me to let me know that I had misspelled ‘lawyer’ in my opening sentence. He was not interested in an interview.”
– AmnesiaCane
Assassination Attempts
“I had a funny typo on a resume I once reviewed. It read:
” ‘Assassinated the lead florist on site’ “
“Obviously it was meant to say assisted.”
– snailtopus
“Screw up a bride’s centerpieces and pay with your life. Florists know this when they sign on for the job.”
– Jackandahalfass
“It was a Sith florist. The only way to progress through the ranks is to kill the master.”
– Bloodcloud079
But Do You Even Lift?
“A guy put his bench, squat and deadlift numbers in his personal skills section for a bar job.”
“It spawned a long tradition of asking bartenders what they could bench when they applied for a job.”
– MoveToStrike
“This one hits close to home haha.”
“When I was in high school I won a few bench press/strength competitions and had that listed in my interests section at the bottom.”
“When I got my first job out of college my boss used to occasionally make jokes about it, so I decided it was time to retire that.”
– Fair-University
“We had a candidate who was clearly into weightlifting ask if our work uniforms came in stretchy materials, ‘you know, for my physique’ as he pointed to his biceps.”
– ballinthrowaway
A Very “Niche” Portfolio
“I was working for a small digital agency and we were looking for designers and illustrators – general multi skilled creative types.”
“The boss wanders in with a sly grin and a big folder. It was from a guy who wanted the job.”
“I came over and he started flicking through it. Page after page of sexy cartoons.”
“Lots of them furry type stuff. Boob, butts, lips, figures intertwined, lots of detailed musculature.”
“So I was like ‘Well it’s quite good for what it is… but what else is there? Is there another section?’ “
“Nope. Nothing else.”
“Just a folder completely full of semi-pornographic cartoon people and sexy anthropomorphised animals.”
“He was not hired. It wasn’t because of the cartoons, it was because it was all just those cartoons.”
“Would have liked to see some commercial applications of illustration, or something showing he could work to requirements, or a variety of work showing different styles. Also this was 15ish years ago.”
– torn-ainbow
It’s not all doom and gloom, though.
We like to end on a positive note around here, so let’s take a minute to talk about the things that catch a hiring manager’s attention in the right way.
That Wording Is Everything
“Had a kid applying to work at a Sam Goody as a stock boy write that he was a petroleum transference engineer for Exxon at his last job.”
“His job was pumping gas, I hired him on the spot.”
– Canadian_Neckbears
Playing Games
“I work at an Escape Room.”
“We once received a resume that consisted in a webpage address protected by a password, and three well-crafted riddles that we had to solve to get the password.”
“We spent an hour doing it with two colleagues, and it included decrypting a code from a specific frame of Zodiac by David Fincher. It was simply amazing.”
“Sadly, we weren’t hiring at the time, and she had found another job we we started hiring again.”
“We would have loved to hire her, but we were fully staffed and not in a position to just create a job for her. Believe me we wanted to.”
– Maximelene
World Of Warcraft
“Once I received a resume that had ‘Raid leader for WOW in top guild of a server.’ “
“The other hiring managers laughed their asses off and said this guy was a joke. They all dismissed him.”
“Me, I asked the guy to come in for an interview. He did pretty well and I hired him.”
“The reason I brought the guy in for interview was because I’m an avid Warcraft player and I know the sh*t raid leaders go through.”
“Trying to get a large number of people together, coordinate resources and rewards, getting guides together and telling people to up their healing/dps and not stand in fire. All done virtually via vent and forum postings (meaning you never met these guild members in person.)”
“You need some great leadership skills and project management. Also at that time I was dealing with a lot of people offsite so I thought this guy would be a good fit.”
“9 years later (I’ve since left the company), the WOW guy I hired turned out to be great!”
“He’s particularly shined in recent years when corporations decide that working from home doing virtual meetings is the way to go to cut cost. His skill set as a raid leader translated very well with remote project management!”
“Oh, and is now the manager of those same hiring managers that laughed at his resume.”
“This was at a Fortune 500 financial company.”
– evonebo
So let’s go over what we’ve learned today, shall we?
- Keep things brief.
- It’s important to spell-check.
- How much you can bench press probably isn’t relevant enough to go on your resume.
Oh, and make sure there’s more than just furry semi-porn in your portfolio.
This Is How You Can Use Awkward Silences to Get a Salary Increase
No one likes negotiating a salary. Whether you are interviewing for a new job or looking to increase your salary at a current one, they are nerve-wracking! But don’t fret. There are ways that you can prepare for a salary negotiation that can up your odds for getting what you want.
Awkward silences are…awkward.
When asking for a salary raise uncomfortable silences are the best tool in your toolbox. You’ll need to be comfortable leaning into the silence after you speak. Trust me, it can work.
As people adapt to “adulting,” it’s important to learn the art of accepting cringe-worthy moments and embracing discomfort.
Photo Credit: Unsplash, Tim Gouw
So what do you do in this situation?
Katie Donovan, founder of the consultancy firm Equal Pay Negotiations, explains: “The first step is to be silent, hush up, or SHUT UP!” That is, after you’ve asked for more.
Even that statement might make you squeamish, but hear me out. Let’s say you were offered $35,000 as a starting salary. You were expecting $42,000 (the median amount), because based on your research, a role like the one you interviewed for would pay that. So what do you do?
Phrase your answer like, “Thank you for the offer. I truly appreciate it. I am a little surprised about the salary. Based on my research and my skills, I would have expected it to be $45,000.”
Yes, go in a touch higher than the median.
Photo Credit: Raw Pixel
The next step: Sit back and close your mouth. Allow the employer to mull over that.
“Remember,” Donovan says, “rarely is an initial job offer made at the maximum salary budgeted. The hiring manager most likely will have the authority to increase the salary during the meeting.”
I spent many years negotiating salaries as an HR Recruiter in the employment field. My experience taught me that most employers will go in low at the first offer. And guess what? They would expect you as a candidate to ask for more. So why not try? The ball is in your court.
Think of it this way: the company likes you, they want you on their team, and they have chosen you out of hundreds of candidates.
That’s the confidence you need to go into that salary negotiation. My advice is never to leave dollars on the table but be humble about it. Don’t ask for $60,000 for a $35,000 job. Be reasonable.
Now go out there, do your research, and be ready to tackle your next salary negotiation!
The post This Is How You Can Use Awkward Silences to Get a Salary Increase appeared first on UberFacts.
Pay Attention! Here Are 5 Signs You May Be About to Get Fired.
Have you ever walked into work and a really weird feeling rolls over you? Maybe you can’t put your finger on it or perhaps you received some looks from co-workers. Either way, you’re wondering if you’re on the chopping block.
No one likes that feeling, and job security isn’t really a thing nowadays. So now you’re contemplating looking for a new job, or maybe your rational side is telling you to calm down.
If you’re wondering if a firing is impending, here are a few tell-tale signs.
Photo Credit: Unsplash, Markus Spiske temp
5. Your conversation with a manager is in your inbox
You just left your manager’s office. The news wasn’t good. She lectured you on getting tasks done faster or on that conflict between you and another employee. Either way, she just sent your action plan in an email. She outlined your conversation and the ways she expects you to behave moving forward.
Yikes.
Don’t fret. All you need to do is be on your toes and follow through with her request. Most managers will document meetings in this manner. Perhaps it’s to create a “file of proof” against you. But don’t lose hope. Take this as a warning and turn things around.
4. Your manager follows up on that project
A day later, your manager sends a follow up on that project she wants on her desk, tomorrow. But she said it wasn’t due until the end of the week! What do you do? Well, instead of taking a long lunch or chatting with co-workers, hunker down and meet the new deadline.
Photo Credit: Tim Gouw, Pexels
3. Your responsibilities are dwindling
This should be a real red flag. If you all of a sudden find that your work is being given to another employee, it might be a good idea to start looking for another job.
Also, it couldn’t hurt ask your manager why. There might be other reasons. Are you moving into a different role? Are you being put on a different project? If you don’t ask for clarity, you may not get it. On the other hand, you might not like what you hear.
2. You didn’t get invited to a team meeting
You just returned from lunch to find your team is MIA. Where did they go? You peek around the conference room and see them. Why aren’t you? You check your inbox for the meeting request to find you didn’t receive one.
Getting left out of team meetings could mean you are no longer needed, so you best check with your team after they wrap up to get some insight.
Photo Credit: Snapwire, Pexels
1. You meet the new person and he shares your title
Your manager exits her office with a new employee. They are laughing and chatting as she introduces him to the group. You had no idea they were hiring. Hmmmm. He walks over to you and introduces himself. You ask nicely, “What will you be doing?” He answers that he was hired with the same title as you.
Before you get into a tizzy, maybe the company is growing. If not, look over any past reprimands or documented meetings from the boss – if things were at all rocky, it might be time to dust off your resume.
Before you start to over-analyze any of the signs above, take a deep breath. None of them is a surefire indication of anything, so you could be just fine.
But maybe update the resume, just in case…
The post Pay Attention! Here Are 5 Signs You May Be About to Get Fired. appeared first on UberFacts.
Experts from Harvard Share Tips for the Perfect Cover Letter
Picture this scenario: You’ve just received your college degree and are chomping at the bit to get into a job that features your skills. You’ve done everything right. Great grades, solid references, a sparkling new resume, and a boatload of internships to prove your experience.
You’re scanning open positions online and come across your dream job! You upload your resume and fill out the application marking your interest. But before you click “submit” there is a section to upload a cover letter. Uh oh.
You quickly draft a letter to the HR manager regurgitating your resume. Good enough, right? Wrong.
According to Inc.com, there are over 250 applicants vying for that job, but only about 2% of those score an interview. So how do you stand out among the competition?
Your cover letter.
Photo Credit: Pexels, Lukas
A cover letter sets you apart. It lets the employer understand your personality, writing skills and why you are better than the competition.
What to include in your cover letter
Linda Spencer, Assistant Director of the Office of Career Services at Harvard answers the all-important question:
- Why are you a great fit for that specific company?
- How would you add value back into the organization if hired for that specific role? What impact could you make?
She also touches on an astounding statistic that “…the average employer takes up only about 7 seconds [to review resumes]. So they are not reading these resumes, they’re skimming these resumes. They need to know right off the bat how you are adding value.”
If you are looking to get to the top of the stack, a cover letter will help. Here’s what you need to include.
Address the letter to an actual person
With job sites like Linkedin, you should be able to seek out the hiring manager. And sometimes the job description lists the person performing the interviews, such as a Human Resources individual. Take that opportunity to personalize that letter to a specific audience (if you get it wrong, it’s not the end of the world).
State your purpose for the letter
An opener such as: “I am writing to express my interest in the [ENTER Position Title] within your organization.
Be clear as to why they are receiving your resume. You may also include where you found the job—via their website or a job board.
Do not summarize your resume!
Your cover letter should enhance your resume, not rehash it into paragraph form. This is your chance to shine and show a little of your personality and enthusiasm.
“If you have relevant school or work experience, be sure to point it out with one or two key examples,” Harvard’s Career Services Manual states. “Emphasize skills or abilities that relate to the job. Be sure to do this in a confident manner and keep in mind that the reader will also view your letter as an example of your writing skills.”
Use action words and the words “You” or “Your organization” rather than “I”
Remember, the employer wants to know what you can do for their company! Show them in your cover letter (don’t tell them). If you use the word “I”, it tells the company what you hope to gain from them, not the other way around.
Companies are interested in finding the best employee and that top echelon of candidates express what they can to add value to the job.
And skip the overused words like “hard-working, results-driven, team player.” Chances are the hiring manager has seen these a million times. Give them action. Show them how you are a team player. What projects have you done in which you proved you are a results-driven candidate?
Closing statement
In the end, show your enthusiasm for being in consideration for the role. Thank them for their time and tell them you are looking forward to discussing your candidacy further. This shows them you are excited and appreciative.
Consistency
Lastly, consistency is key. Your font type, size, etc should match your resume. These two very important documents complement each other and should match across the board.
Here is an excellent example of a cover letter breakdown to help you score that dream job!
Photo Credit: Harvard
Now get out there and apply!
The post Experts from Harvard Share Tips for the Perfect Cover Letter appeared first on UberFacts.