6 Reasons Your Résumé Goes Straight to My Trash

Out of the trash?

As I read all of the advice given and am absolutely certain that I do not do any of the things listed, I still have to ask; how do I getting in the “call for an interview” pile? Its very discouraging to customize a resume and cover letter for every job applied for, literally spending hours researching companies, translating my past experience and education to specifically fit the needs of the job posting, double and triple checking for errors, having at least two people proof read everything I send out and then not even getting a phone call. So for all of those that decide who gets that phone call any thoughts how I can increase my chances of getting at least noticed?

Also my email address, ringtone, voicemail are all professional!

LT of MO @ Jun 21, 2009 23:49:31 PM

Additional Reasons to Trash Resume

I work at a staffing agency where we place technical professional people. Whenever we receive job postings from clients, we normally e-mail them out to our candidates in our database, as well as posting them on our web site and craigslist.com (without the client info). If the ad says that the firm needs specific information included when submitting the resume, for God's sake, follow the damned instructions. It is a bigger pain for us, especially since we work with a reduced staff, to sift through resumes of people who apparently slept through the reading comprehension portion of their grade school reading classes. Also, sending reply messages that state that, "Oh geez, you'll probably just ship the job off to India or Mexico anyway" or calling and whining about how every employer in the county of {fill in the blank} is trying to screw you over, will definitely earn you my permanent disrespect and an even more permanent purging of your resume out of our database. Take your chip on your shoulder to your county mental health services office. With being unemployed, I'm sure they'll be more than willing to give you free counseling. (Trust me, you'll need it.)

SMB of MI @ Apr 27, 2009 09:42:12 AM

Voicemails...

I have to add my agreement to the voicemail issue, please if you're job hunting, have a simple and professional voicemail message. Feel free to change it back to crazy after you've gotten the job. Music, swearing, your baby or kids leaving the voicemail, joke messages, voicemail being full, no voicemail at all, etc. are all turnoffs.

I still remember a voicemail message from years ago where I called to set up an interview, and the message was "If I'm not answering, I probably don't want to (insert swear word here) talk to you, so don't bother leaving a message". I hung up and never called back.

Just another HR lady... @ Apr 17, 2009 11:36:57 AM

Good advice

The article and readers' comments reflect mistakes often made by job seekers who presume their cleverly crafted resumes will get their feet in the door. During periods I've been in the job search mode, I've sanitized my voicemail announcement to give a courteous and professional appeal without personal ring tones or music in the background. I want potential interviewers to have a positive - or at least a neutral first impression so they may want to learn more. Ethnic last names particularly those that are both difficult to pronounce and spell probably doesn't help except in fields already accustomed to or serviced by ethnic diversity. And people's social network profiles may often reflect too much personal and wierd preferences or worse "friends" - like the porn stars and hookers who work those websites. Better to use an avatar with alternative identity to one's legal job search name to keep work and play separate. I could go on, but in the end it's still a numbers game in large part.

Tony Lee of CA @ Apr 04, 2009 09:51:32 AM

Ringback tones & outgoing messages

When I schedule interviews, I constantly call people with either annoying and obnoxious voicemail messages, or completely innappropriate ringback tones. If I call you to set up an interview only to have to sit through Baby Got Back or Death Metal blasting my ears until I can leave a message, not only do I feel you are not one hundred percent committed to finding a job, but I'm also not going to sit through it.

Jeanne of NY @ Mar 23, 2009 13:32:36 PM

I get those too

The call I got last week asked me to e-mail the job description to "sexystrawberrytalented." When she told me her e-mail address, she said, "I should probably change it." Yup. Probably should.

Erin of CO @ Sep 15, 2008 12:43:21 PM

Very timely advice

With more people looking for jobs, applicants have to realize that HR/Hiring managers receive literally 100's of resumes for some jobs. Any of the 6 reasons mentioned will move the applicant to the NO pile quickly.

I have been doing recruiting lately and have seen all six reasons plus a voicemail message that was a life statement - I did not leave message and the applicant went in the NO pile, listing a phone number in your resume with Privacy Director - UM, use an answering machine, and applicants who live in another state but do not address how they plan to work in the state were the job is located.

KQ of GA @ Aug 28, 2008 16:26:33 PM

Right on Target

I agree. Those six reasons are definitely trash-worthy for me also. If I have a dozen good resumes and one of them is from "2HotForU", that one is out, and fast. Also, if I call the applicant, and I get a weird voicemail greeting, like one with a breathless, sighing, sexy message, I hang up and move the resume to the "no interest" pile.

sa of CA @ Aug 26, 2008 13:38:23 PM