Have You Bought Into These Resume Myths?
November 2008
It seems that "advice" on how to structure your resume is everywhere, with varying opinions from numerous sources. Now that tight economic times are upon us, you might need even more information to help you land (【非正式用语】 获得；获取) that perfect job.
Unfortunately, many resume ideas that should have been cast aside (消除, 废除) years ago still seem to float around, and taking them as truth can actually impede (阻止) your success.
Take a look at these 5 long-standing myths, and check your resume against them to ensure you're using cutting-edge (有效素质，有效因素) techniques:
Myth #1: Employers want absolutely every detail of your background.
Reality: Hiring managers need to see relevance in the information you've provided.
If you're focused on presenting yourself as a sales professional, for example, the fact that you have run a cash register (收银机) at a summer job may not be helpful to the reader. Conversely, a list of your sales training would actually be of use in that same scenario(某一特定情节) .
Remember that overloaded (过载的) resume screening (甄别；筛选) systems and HR personnel can't make sense out of extraneous (无关的) information. Instead, highlight (强调) crucial qualifications that can help employers make a hiring decision.
After settling on one career goal for your resume, tie your background directly to the role you seek with the keywords, skills, and accomplishments required for success in the new job.
Relevance is also the key to creating a personally branded resume (see samples here), which re-weights information according to how it qualifies you for your goals.
Myth #2: A resume should contain your job descriptions so employers can tell what you did.
Reality: Most professional jobs have the same description. Differentiation (区别，区分) is key.
If you to want to stand head and shoulders above (远远超出) your competition, then skip the lengthy and mundane (寻常的；普通的) descriptions of your jobs. Focus instead on how you solve problems, and the results you have gained.
Employers already know that mortgage (抵押) professionals handle loan paperwork, and that engineers solve complex analytical problems. Rather, describe how your work affected the company's revenue (收入) or how the project was delivered on time.
It's easier for employers to see how hiring you will make a difference if you talk about quantifiable (可以计量的) accomplishments, as well as the strategies you used to achieve them.
Myth #3: A resume should be no longer than a single page in length.
Reality: A concise, well-written resume can still take up 2 or even 3 pages.
It's hard to believe this concept is still in use, as it simply doesn't make sense for anyone with more than 8 years of experience. In fact, it's nearly impossible to deliver a true picture of your strengths and achievements into a single page, unless you are an early-career job seeker.
Worse yet, people who've held on to this idea tend to cram (填满) as much as possible into one page--making the document limited AND hard to read.
Today, many resumes fill up 2 pages, with a third page for many executives and IT professionals.
A word of caution, however: don't forget relevance! Stick to facts of your career history that you can tie directly to your career goals.
Myth #4: Add all of your skills, training, and experience to your resume so that employers can see every job you're qualified to perform.
Reality: Flooded with resumes, no one has time to connect your skills to their needs.
A "general" resume, as you'll find, will rarely get calls for interviews, simply because employers can't figure out how your background will benefit them.
If you were hiring a Marketing Director, and reviewed a resume showing skills in IT, operations, marketing, and sales, what would you think? You'd certainly prefer the candidate whose resume tells you in no uncertain terms that marketing is his area of expertise.
Creating your resume around a specific job tells companies why you're qualified to solve their business problems, and how your work history, training, and special abilities will add up to a solution for them. That's a powerful draw.
Myth #5: A resume summary should display many of your "soft" skills.
Reality: Employers need facts that exemplify the reasons you are qualified for your target role.
While your work style is an important qualifier, it isn't as helpful to HR managers as your credentials [(学历, 资历, 资格或成就等)背景]. Keep it short and straightforward--employers aren't impressed by a long paragraph of fluff (无价值的东西).
Use a concise profile paragraph to give facts that might otherwise be buried elsewhere, such as your MBA, certifications, or expertise in a particular industry. If you must add soft skills, show how these have made you successful in your work.
Skip tired phrases, such as "team player" or "self-motivated." After all, most applicants fit this description--or they should!
In summary, a powerful resume is often the key to a shorter, more successful job search. Pulling out differentiating factors will help you build a personal brand--and distinguish yourself as the perfect candidate (候选人).
Posted by Laura Smith