Think you know what it takes to get your dream job? Recruiting experts weigh in on some of the biggest résumé mistakes that could make all the difference.
Think you know what it takes to get your dream job? Recruiting experts weigh in on some of the biggest résumé mistakes that could make all the difference.
The Experts:
■ Richa Sharma,Manager, Page Personnel Singapore
■ Wendy Heng,Associate Director of Sales & Marketing, Healthcare, Supply Chain & Procurement Robert Walters Singapore
General
“Attention to detail matters, so even the font size/font type you use could be a reflection of your professionalism. Use a font type that is simple and easy on the eyes such as Arial, Calibri or Verdana. Stick to font sizes 11 and 12.” – Wendy
Social media
“While it’s not necessary to share your social media handles on your résumé, ensure your LinkedIn profile is updated, professional and accurate. Most employers review a candidate’s social media profile before making a hiring decision these days.” – Wendy
Length
"Ideally, it should not be more than two pages. You will want to keep your CV clear, and very structed so it's easy to read." – Richa
Hobbies
"Including your hobbies is controversial as they are probably not relevant to your professional experience. One could agrue that it helps to 'humanise' your CV and give people a feel for who you are. However, some see it as fluff. Remember, most hiring managers pass their judgment on your résumé in 45 seconds." –Richa
Personal Information - at the top
"Only give information a potential employer would need and nothing more. Do not make the mistake of including your religiousaffiliation and if you have a driver's license. These are not relevant, and only distract from the main task at hand, which is to be clear and concise." -Richa
Education
"Put the name of the institutions and the dates attended in reverse chronological order." - Richa
Work experience
“List your work experience in reverse chronological order. Include a comprehensive synopsis of your career history and achievements.” – RS
“Present your career achievements in layman’s terms. It should be readable and easily understood, since your résumé will usually be screened by the recruiter or human resources managers first.” – Wendy
Now that you’ve sent the perfect résumé…
…Is it time to just sit back and relax?
“Give the employer up to two weeks to process your résumé, says Wendy. “If you don’t hear back from them by then and are really keen on the position or company you applied for, it is acceptable to send an e-mail to follow up.”
Richa also cautions against being impatient. “A lot of people are very confident that they will hear back until they don’t. The key here is to always follow up. Contacting the hiring manager or the person you have submitted your CV to shows your level of interest in the role and could also make you stand out because you made the call and the other 120 applicants didn’t.”
At the same time, he also says boundaries are important: “There is such a thing as ‘following up too much’. Once is enough. If you still have yet to hear back from them, I recommend moving on and not bombarding them with e-mails, calls and LinkedIn profile visits.”
Images: 123RF.com / Text Compiled By: Karen Fong.
