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This article is click bait, but if you go through the clicks it nearly pinpoints why many Veteran resumes get tossed.
1. You’ve been a manager in the same function as the non-management job you’re applying for now (screeners will wonder “Why does this applicant want to take a step down?”)
2. You’re a non-local job candidate (and you don’t explain why)
3. Industry jargon from a different industry
4. Lots of typos and misspellings in your resume
5. No obvious intersection between your resume and the job spec
6. Long-term or multiple employment gaps (periods of unemployment)
7. Your formal education doesn’t match your career history
8. Precipitous drops in altitude (e.g., a switch from an executive-level job to a nearly entry-level job)
9. Non-traditional, zigzag career path, unexplained
10. Lots of short-term jobs in a row (with no explanation)
*copy and pasted points for those who don't want to click bait.
1. You’ve been a manager in the same function as the non-management job you’re applying for now (screeners will wonder “Why does this applicant want to take a step down?”)
2. You’re a non-local job candidate (and you don’t explain why)
3. Industry jargon from a different industry
4. Lots of typos and misspellings in your resume
5. No obvious intersection between your resume and the job spec
6. Long-term or multiple employment gaps (periods of unemployment)
7. Your formal education doesn’t match your career history
8. Precipitous drops in altitude (e.g., a switch from an executive-level job to a nearly entry-level job)
9. Non-traditional, zigzag career path, unexplained
10. Lots of short-term jobs in a row (with no explanation)
*copy and pasted points for those who don't want to click bait.
Ten Ways Your Resume Can Scare Employers Away
Posted from www3.forbes.com
Resume
Employment
Transition
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 2
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Great post SSG Smith. I'd take what you provided and make sure I answered all those questions in my Cover Letter. The resume is part 1 of the process. The goal is to get the interview. A well crafted Cover Letter will cover all the gaps that you highlighted in 1-10.
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Little did I know you posted everything worth reading from the article. No examples or details in the article until the end.
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SSG Trevor S.
SGT (Join to see) I despise click bait, but sometimes the professional insight is worth it. I don't do Kardashian click bait though.
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Suspended Profile
Good info to pass out. Gaps in employment is an annoying one - punished because you take a break from work?
Not sure I totally agree with difference in career history and formal education - most places I have interviewed for or worked dont career about your major.
Series of short term gigs: contractor, internships, or maybe survival work bc lazy hr folks consider this an omen....2 words: gig economy. It's gaining a serious footing since benefits are so costly.
Spelling/grammar mistakes - not really excusable. There are free grammar websites, google will correct and define words for you, and there is grammarly.
Not sure I totally agree with difference in career history and formal education - most places I have interviewed for or worked dont career about your major.
Series of short term gigs: contractor, internships, or maybe survival work bc lazy hr folks consider this an omen....2 words: gig economy. It's gaining a serious footing since benefits are so costly.
Spelling/grammar mistakes - not really excusable. There are free grammar websites, google will correct and define words for you, and there is grammarly.
SSG Trevor S.
PO2 Eric K I've been in interviews where I was straight out told that my education didn't match my experience. THEN later on down the line I got asked why I wanted to take a step back in career level. Talk about a Catch-22 situation.
My suggestion to all currently serving Service Members is to use every bit of tuition assistance and get at least a Bachelor's degree to ensure you don't fall into this situation.
*I am currently looking into the best way to expand past my Associate's to get a Bachelor's myself.
My suggestion to all currently serving Service Members is to use every bit of tuition assistance and get at least a Bachelor's degree to ensure you don't fall into this situation.
*I am currently looking into the best way to expand past my Associate's to get a Bachelor's myself.
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Suspended Profile
SSG Trevor S. - In the first situation, sounds like they are worried about you only taking the job temp until you get a better offer or they are trying to break down your salary expectations. If you had to deal with an employment gap like I did they will use that against you. The educstion level - I empathize. Your career, accolades, variety of leadership,etc. should easily command a solid managerial role. I notice you did networking for 300 comps, performed tech training, etc. - tech credibility, I'm told, has a shelf life of roughly 5 years due to obsolescence, but most of the articles I am reading based on HR responses and entrepreneurs wheeling and dealing right in the epicenter (silicon valley) push for relevant certs and experience. If you need certs, check out ivmf.syracuse.edu (been recommending it to everyone; I am currently taking the oracle 12c course...good stuff). That program is free for one industry cert per honorably disc. Veteran and is available online in a scheduled cohort format. I am weary on the bachelors reccomendation only bc I just got one from a brick/mortar school in Philly....but finally had to take a job at the IRS that only requires a HS diploma after I quit my truckdriving job. Experience and people that like or want to help you are paramount. I agree that the degree is a checkbox that must be filled for some of the better paying career roles - supposedly going into debt and doing projects with 18-22 yr olds will give one the discipline, crit thinking and problem solving ability that life and military service fell short on? It is insulting. That said, most employers simply know nothing about military - they are utterly dissociated except for what they catch on the news, generally. We are being grouped with self-involved and lacklustre workforce civvies because if it isnt a question of experience (a dd-214 is only resourced for protected vet status - tax credits).
Post-2008, things feel as if they have improved. Gainful emplpyment is possible, but I would just urge others reading this to balls-to-the-wall improve their credentials (even if just codeacademy or lynda.com courses...you can learn anything from python to standard English grammar).
Lastly, Mr. Smith, congratulations on retirement and thank you for your service. I hope things have gone well for you overall and continue as such. A big part of dealing with the (seemingly never-quite-ending) transition is continually developing job search savvy. You can keep a master resume, go to achool, job shadow, and network, but we are all subject to economic moments of prosperity... and the antithetical moments. Sometimes it doesn't much matter what you are willing - or able - to leverage in job hunting. Just gotta keep each other motivated and focused on the fact that it can and will get better. Have a good one and good luck in the bachelors program - let me know if you major in business finance or Russian, and please check out that syracuse cohort (some cert courses cost thousands for avg civvies). Take it easy.
Post-2008, things feel as if they have improved. Gainful emplpyment is possible, but I would just urge others reading this to balls-to-the-wall improve their credentials (even if just codeacademy or lynda.com courses...you can learn anything from python to standard English grammar).
Lastly, Mr. Smith, congratulations on retirement and thank you for your service. I hope things have gone well for you overall and continue as such. A big part of dealing with the (seemingly never-quite-ending) transition is continually developing job search savvy. You can keep a master resume, go to achool, job shadow, and network, but we are all subject to economic moments of prosperity... and the antithetical moments. Sometimes it doesn't much matter what you are willing - or able - to leverage in job hunting. Just gotta keep each other motivated and focused on the fact that it can and will get better. Have a good one and good luck in the bachelors program - let me know if you major in business finance or Russian, and please check out that syracuse cohort (some cert courses cost thousands for avg civvies). Take it easy.
Susan Foster
It's just all a matter of being aware of these and being able to explain them. I think there's always a way to word the resume to overcome these. But when there isn't, be prepared to explain in the interview. The resume is just a tool to get you an interview--it paints a picture of you and they want to hear more.
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