Avoid These Major Flaws in the Job Search

Top Ways to Ensure Resume and Cover Letter Don't Get an Interview

Jul 18, 2009

Learning what to avoid doing and saying is just as important as knowing what to say or do in a job hunt. Follow these tips to ensure an interview invitation is procured.

Here are the top ways to ensure the resume and cover letter makes it to the garbage and don't help get an interview; knowing what to avoid will help the candidate get the right job.

Messy Appearance

How does the resume and cover letter look? Not the content, that comes later. Do margins line up, are font changes erratic, is the print even? Is there enough white space in both the resume and cover letter in the left margin for the interviewer or reader to write down quick notes or points, even before the interview? Is the letterhead even and matching on all pages if used?

Paying attention to these appearance details proves to the company about each candidate's professional outlook. Keep it neat and tidy to present a crisp look.

Have Someone Else Write the Cover Letter

Does the tone of the letter match the chosen words on the resume? Does it match the education level stated on the resume?

There's nothing wrong with getting help in creating the cover letter and resume. The problem is when the tone does not match the candidate. A quick phone interview from the company may still give one an on-site interview, but if the verbal communication at the interview is decidedly lacking or different from the documents, both the company and the candidate have wasted their time. Each candidate should write his or her own, and then get help if needed. Or get help in writing the original. Just don't let someone else do all of it.

Make Typos, Grammatical Mistakes and Spelling Errors

Spelling errors, grammatical mistakes and typos all show the lack of taking time to really proofread. There's no excuse on this one, other than the candidate did not bother to read what was written. Ensure there are no extra periods or spaces.

Try reading the resume and cover letter out loud to catch most grammar and typing errors. Is the resume attached or attacked? Does the candidate have fears of experience or years of experience?

Poor Cover Letter Content

Does the cover letter just repeat what's in the ad, or does it show how the candidate can demonstrate the required skills? Verbatim wording from the ad may get it past an electronic scanner, but not past the human recruiter. Both the resume and cover letter need to expand on accomplishments, not duties, and how these accomplishments can expand to the applied-for position. If the candidate can show on paper that he or she understands the requirements of the position and how he or she has those capabilities, then an interview will quickly follow.

Bottom Line

Knowing what not to do to get an interview is just as important as knowing what to do. Ensure the cover letter and resume is an accurate representation of skills and level. Ensure these documents are error-free and look clean. Don't just copy the words in the ad: expand and prove the experience.

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