The Three Big NOs of Job Resumés
Consistency.
It’s the main thing holding your resumé together, even if you don’t know it.
This time, I want to focus on a very concise, but very important topic that will help you land many job interviews, even though a lot of people ignore it.
The Three Nos of Job Resumés
These three Nos refer to very simple, easy to understand elements that a lot of people probably know and understand, even if they don’t really apply them.
So, what are the three Nos? No Gaps, No Overlaps, No Freelancing. Why do I single these things out? It’s very simple.
Employers are very particular as to what they like to see on a resumé. They want someone who offers a consistent job history. You know how consistency is made? By avoiding gaps in your resumé. You can’t offer a friendly, stable face to your employer if they see year-long gaps in your job history.
My solution to this? While you can obviously offer a simple explanation to your gap, it’s certainly easier to stretch out your job dates instead. Remember: Truth is a fine value to have. But a moral definition of being truthful is to uphold the truth to those that actually deserve it, those who don’t want to use it to do you or someone else harm.
So, if you know that your employer will look at your gap in bad faith - it’s simpler to stretch out those dates a bit.
Same goes for the second and third point. If you’re freelancing, you will find that there’s a lot of overlap in your resumé. Same goes for job stacking. It’s best to obscure or disguise this information, as it will help you get noticed and avoid disqualification in a premature manner.
While obviously freelancing is a valid choice, employers usually think it means you’re working for a less reputable entity, which makes them lose interest in you more often than not.
Remember, the idea is to appear charming and welcoming. Just as you’re likely practicing your interview questions, you need to practice how to organize your job history as well.
I know that’s a tall order at times, but you don’t have to do it alone. If you want to discuss how to A) Find different job opportunities, B) How to organize your resumé, and C) Nail those interviews so you can skyrocket your income, then by all means give me a call.
That’s it for now. Remember: Avoid gaps, embrace consistency.
Until the next time,
Rolf.
