For every vacancy, there are a multitude of qualified applicants ready and eager to fill the position. This competition makes the need for a top-level resume more important than ever if you want to get noticed. To help set yourself apart from the pack and make a great first impression, be sure to avoid these common resume mistakes.
Not Explaining Employment Gaps- When information is missing there is a tendency to imagine what may be going on, and it is not always positive. These same thoughts go through a hiring managers head when reviewing resumes with notable employment gaps. Instead of leaving these gaps open to interpretation, address it head on. Explain what caused the gap and how you gained something from the experience.
Downplaying Your Accomplishments- Many people feel uncomfortable telling others about how great they are. This inclination to downplay one’s accomplishments can be detrimental when it comes to creating a blockbuster resume. Your resume is the hook that lands you the interview, so it needs to represent the best of what you have to offer. Tell them about all your achievements and accolades from colleagues and patients while also emphasizing any benchmarks you have set or adversities you have overcome.
Not Tailoring Your Resume for Each Vacancy- Try to avoid the common mistake of creating a boilerplate resume that you use for every opportunity. It is important to modify your resume for each opportunity because every position and company is different. Start by evaluating the job description. This description will provide insight into what a company values and what they are looking for in a prospective hire. Use this to your advantage and tailor your resume to reflect what they are looking for in their ideal candidate. Try to highlight some of the keywords the job description used in your resume. This will help illustrate that you are a candidate that has all the attributes they are looking for.
Using a CV Instead of a Resume- Many Physicians are steeped in the idea that CV’s are the only format to use when applying for a position. While CV’s provide a comprehensive narrative of your academic and employment expertise, they are often lengthy and contain details that may not be relevant to clinical practice positions. To assist time strapped hiring managers, who often don’t have the time to wade through lengthy documents to glean relevant details about each candidate, consider streamlining your CV to a resume format for opportunities that lie outside of academia. This will increase the likelihood of you getting an interview where you can wow them with all the details.
Not Asking for Help- If writing isn’t your strong suit, strongly consider asking a friend who is familiar with your industry to review your resume, or better yet, hire a resume writer. This simple step can eliminate many problematic issues while also enhancing your resume’s impact.