8 reasons why your resume is being ignored

Here's how you can revamp your resume so that it doesn't end up in the bin

Tired of applying for multiple positions and not being recruited? Find out what exactly you have been doing wrong all these years.

Resume is a primary tool used by employers to screen potential candidates, which is why you need to revamp it so that they are prompted to call you back.

Here are eight common mistakes Brand and Mortar and Money Smart identify which you need to avoid:

1. You email address predates recorded history:

Pre-historic doesn't mean the email id you made during high school. You need to stop using Hotmail or AOL domains as they are outdated. Update your address to a more contemporary address like Gmail. For marketing and advertising positions, it is important to have a widely used email address as it shows you are well aware of the latest trends.

2. You use a selfie as your Linkedin profile picture:

Linkedin is a professional network so you don’t have to pose like Bill Gates but at least have a professional-looking photo. You must have an appropriately sized head shot while looking straight into the camera so that your whole face shows.

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3. You have multiple inactive social media accounts:

Recruiters appreciate if you have single social media account and you manage it well rather than having multiple accounts and not being active. It’s not important to have a million followers, although it is a bonus if you have a few, but you need to be quite active with posting and re-tweeting other’s posts in order to share content. It is particularly important if you are applying for positions that involve digital mediums.

4. Your Facebook pictures question your maturity:

If you think recruiters avoid your social media presence, then you are absolutely wrong. They go through comprehensive screening and that includes your Facebook account as well. Yes, they do understand it’s your personal account but you can’t have your high school pictures if you want to enter the professional world. Your shirtless photos shouldn’t be in your public-facing profile.

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5. You have applied for multiple positions:

You don’t have to show that you are desperate for a job by applying for multiple positions within the same organisation. If you are not sure about the criteria you fit in, you can always ask for assistance. Drop an email to the hiring manager before sending in an application and you may end up getting a job that suits your interests and skills.

6. Use numbers other than your phone number:

This doesn't mean put additional contact numbers but it is really important to put up quantifiable figures that will help measure your success over the past. As we all know, competition has increased, recruiters need to know your sales record or your reach on a campaign if they want to hire you as their marketer.

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7. You excessively use jargons:

Trust me nobody wants to know how you scored that 3.6 GPA. So, you need to keep it short and simple. Just be concise about what you have done and how it impacted the company instead of telling your “leverage responsibilities” that had an impact on your organisation’s “directional strategy”.

8. Your resume isn’t a PDF file:

As digital means have taken over the conventional job application process, it is very important to know the basics. If you are not sending your resume as a PDF file then you are making a mistake. As we all know PDF files cannot be formatted, it gives out a professional impression. It ensures that employers see your resume as you want them to.