In my last post, I shared some tips for writing a great cover letter, one of those linchpins of a good employment application. We’ve also spent some time talking about good résumé habits, so I thought it might be fun (and useful!) to dispel a few common myths about résumés, too.
Myth 1: Use cream colored paper, etc.
This myth is based on the thought that interviewers have trouble sorting through a pile of résumé and are looking for the slightest standout features to draw attention to your résumé. It’s of a piece with advice like “use colorful paper clips instead of staples” and the like. Apart from being ineffective, this advice has been outmoded by technology. Most of us submit résumés via email or a company’s application portal, so while it can be a best practice to arrive at the interview with your résumé, chances are your interviewer will have a copy already.
Myth 2: Keep it short
This isn’t quite a myth, since we’re always striving for concision, and you do yourself no favors by submitting a résumé that’s a chore to read. But in general, don’t feel bound by the “one page” or “single sheet” rules. Most people flout these anyway by adjusting margins and font size. And regardless, just as with the glittery binder clips, most interviewers are interacting with your résumé digitally, so these Jedi mind tricks won’t work on them.
Myth 3: References are make-or-break
References can be difficult if only because it can be hard to get exact contact information for employers from years ago. To that end, don’t stress and delay sending out your résumé because you can’t find an email address for Mr. James from Ankeny Ice Cream Parlor. Either don’t list a phone number or contact information, or better yet, include a “References” section at the end of your résumé and write only “Available upon request”. This not only gets you out of the task of tracking down irrelevant minutiae, it allows a potential employer to clarify exactly what sort of references matter in their hiring process.
Myth 4: Résumés are easy
This ‘myth’ is a little self-serving here, but bear with me. Because you’re supposed to have been writing these for years, you might think that anyone should be able to write a good résumé. This thought might make you feel too confident about a résumé that could use some work, or it might make you anxious to ask for help and to delay your application process. Don’t let either of these things happen! If you have a résumé you’ve used a few times, you can benefit from a professional giving you suggestions on streamlining and classy formatting ideas. And it’s no problem either if you’re starting from scratch. Reach out in chat or via email for our low-cost solutions for résumés as precise or general as you might need.
