Have you recently applied to a job posting where you were confident that you met all of the qualifications for the position, but have not yet heard a response back from the company? If so, your resume may not have reached the hands of an HR representative. Getting your resume in front of a hiring manager is a difficult task. If your resume never reaches these people, your chances of getting the job are slim to none. It would be great if we could get into the heads of recruiters and find out what they are thinking when he or she looks over your resume. However, one thing for certain is that your resume needs to be current and stand out from the thousands of other applicants who are competing for the same position. Here are some effective tips that you can use in order to avoid getting your resume trashed:

1.       Misspellings or Grammatical Errors

While job seekers are aware that grammatical errors and misspelled words can harm the effectiveness of a resume, there are still a good number of people who send out resumes that are saturated with careless grammatical mistakes. With the help of recent technology, spell check, and expert resume writing services, these simple spelling and grammatical errors should be a thing of the past! Make sure you proofread your resume multiple times. If you’re still unsure of your resume’s strength, send it to GetInterviews for a free resume review.

2.       You Don’t Showcase Your Strengths

If recruiters receive hundreds of resumes on a weekly basis for a single position, they want to be able to quickly identify why you are a better candidate amongst the other few hundred applicants. Your resume must showcase your strengths? What makes you qualified for the position? Employers are looking for a candidate who can do the job. If your resume doesn’t do so in the short time hiring managers take to review a resume, your resume will gently be placed in the garbage can.

3.       Vague Claims

Make sure in showcasing your strengths that you don’t make too many vague claims. Rather than stating things such as: “I’m a strategic, clear thinker, I can work alone or in a group,” you can say something like “I have managed a team of six, as well as acted alone as an in-house communications department.” Recruiters receive a high volume of resumes with loads of vague statements. Make sure you stand out by being a little more specific. Provide hiring personnel with the detailed experience and/or achievements they are looking for.

4.       Too much or too little information.

Most hiring managers simply do not have the time or desire to read through a resume that is too long. On the other hand, a resume that doesn’t provide enough information to the employer is a resume that won’t have much success.

The length of a resume has always been a debate. Although a two-page resume is the average, it all depends on the position you are applying for. For instance, a resume for a senior position will typically contain more information than a resume for an entry-level job, as you have more experience/functions to include.  The trick is to include enough information to show that you’re qualified for the position. Evaluate your experience. Work that isn’t relevant to the position you’re applying for should be left off your resume. Only include experience that can relate to the duties of the job.

As previously stated, resume length will remain a much debated about topic. The best way to address this concern is to have a certified professional resume writer (CPRW) review your resume, as he/she isn’t emotionally attached to your past experience.

Remember, you are competing with tons of applicants. A resume that doesn’t stand out is a resume that will be passed to the garbage can immediately. Follow these tips to make sure your resume avoids the trash.