As the economic downturn continues, more legal job seekers are vying for fewer positions — and everyone is feeling the squeeze. Candidates are looking for ways to make their resumes stand out, and many are resorting to editing decisions that may do them more harm than good.
I’ve reviewed a lot of resumes during the course of my career, and I'd like to think that I’ve seen everything…well, perhaps almost everything. What is startling are the numbers of resumes I’ve received from highly accomplished attorneys that contain what I call “harmful editing mistakes.” While these mistakes may seem fairly innocuous, and could be overlooked in a good job market, they can be fatal during a competitive market like this one.
Human resources departments do not have the time, manpower, or the inclination to contact candidates to discuss their flawed resumes. Typically, resumes that do not pass muster in terms of content and form earn a one-way ticket to the “no” pile. Have you ever gotten a call from a prospective employer asking you to explain a mistake or an omission on your resume? Probably not. In this market, it is even less likely to happen.
Many people think that the overall substance of a resume is what is more relevant. While this is generally true, form may also affect substance. It is not unusual for employers to be looking at dozens of nearly identical resumes – in terms of overall substance, experience, credentials etc. If you can only select couple of people from that long list of equally qualified candidates, whom do you think will be selected? The candidate with the clear, comprehensive, and well-written resume, or the one with missing information and typos?
Here are 5 common resume mistakes you should avoid to keep your resume away from the “no” pile:
1. Typos.
You may think that this is so basic that it is not even worth discussing. Of course there are no typos in my resume! Are you sure about that? You’d be surprised how many resumes contain at least one typo. I know that I am often guilty of this sin in my posts, despite my best attempts to keep them at a minimum. But when it comes to a resume - that's not something you want to take lightly.
Spell-checkers can be your best friend and your worst enemy. They can change words automatically, so quickly that you can easily miss the change, and they are only about 70% effective – they miss a lot of errors. So before you send out a resume, be sure to give is a ‘once over’ with a spell-checker, AND give it a second and third old-fashioned personal review. You can never be too careful.
2. Omitting Your Graduation Dates.
If I had a dollar for every resume I’ve received that's missing a graduation date, I’d give Warren Buffet a run for his money. The omission is always intentional, and it almost always comes from candidates who are more experienced. Why? Because they are worried that if they show that they graduated from law school in 1973, they may be passed over for a candidate who graduated in 1993. Is this a valid concern? Perhaps, but omitting a graduation date may actually do more harm than good.
First, the more to try to hide something, the more attention you bring to it. You are not fooling anyone; the omission will not go unnoticed. In fact, it will draw more attention to the fact that you did not include it, that you are uncomfortable with that fact, and that you may be more seasoned for the position than required.
Second, you are now making an employer guess what that date might be. Worse, it clearly shows that you are hiding something, and if it is something as innocuous as a graduation date, an employer can only guess what else you might not have been upfront about in your resume. Doubt creates questions, and questions create doubt. This is the last thing you want your resume to do.
3. Inaccurate or Missing Employment Dates.
If you are no longer employed with a company or firm, not making that fact known by keeping an open date (such as ‘1998-present’ or ‘2004-now’) or not including a date at all, is not only misleading but can be very damaging to a resume.
Obviously, you may be worried that if your resume reflects that you are no longer actively employed, it will be detrimental to your chances of securing a position. While this is a valid concern, it does not take away from the fact that you are not being straightforward with a potential employer.
Again the omission or inaccuracy on your resume will only bring more attention to the fact that you are currently unemployed, or that you have made lots of transitions in a short time period. If this is something you do not want to highlight any more than it has to be, just be honest and include the correct dates. If a potential employer has an issue with this, it is better that you know now rather than waste their time or yours.
Again, these types of omissions and inaccuracies will bring into question your good faith, honesty, and integrity. These are not things you want a potential employer to challenge. Honesty and full disclosure are the best policy when it comes to the information on your resume – you need to present yourself as you are, with the good, the bad, and the ugly.
4. Not Including Titles.
While a title is not always indicative of the type of work and/or level of responsibility of a particular position, it is nevertheless an important marker for employers to be able to examine. It may show an upward trend, highlight a lateral transition, or give one a better sense of where you are operating within a larger matrix. Without titles, you are not only forcing an employer to guess about your level, but you are also making them wonder about your progress.
5. Not Including Your Geographical Location.
This is probably the most difficult omission to understand. I have seen resumes that not only omit a candidate’s current address, but also fail to provide the location of their various positions altogether. Inevitably the question becomes: where is this candidate located, and where are they practicing? If the concern that prompted the omission is relocation, this approach to your resume will inevitably fail. Whether a company is willing to relocate a candidate or not, or is focusing on a particular region or not, is made well before a search begins. This is not a factor that will change based on one great candidate or resume alone.
Again, you need to be upfront with your location. Location can tell a lot about a candidate such as geographical ties, willingness to move etc. This is information that is important for an employer to be able to evaluate; when it is missing it casts doubt, and when time is limited and candidates are plentiful, it may earn the resume a one-way ticket to the “no” pile.
Conclusion. Next time you send out your resume, make sure you proofread it multiple times, and remember the following: honesty and full disclosure are the best policy.
I’ve reviewed a lot of resumes during the course of my career, and I'd like to think that I’ve seen everything…well, perhaps almost everything. What is startling are the numbers of resumes I’ve received from highly accomplished attorneys that contain what I call “harmful editing mistakes.” While these mistakes may seem fairly innocuous, and could be overlooked in a good job market, they can be fatal during a competitive market like this one.
Human resources departments do not have the time, manpower, or the inclination to contact candidates to discuss their flawed resumes. Typically, resumes that do not pass muster in terms of content and form earn a one-way ticket to the “no” pile. Have you ever gotten a call from a prospective employer asking you to explain a mistake or an omission on your resume? Probably not. In this market, it is even less likely to happen.
Many people think that the overall substance of a resume is what is more relevant. While this is generally true, form may also affect substance. It is not unusual for employers to be looking at dozens of nearly identical resumes – in terms of overall substance, experience, credentials etc. If you can only select couple of people from that long list of equally qualified candidates, whom do you think will be selected? The candidate with the clear, comprehensive, and well-written resume, or the one with missing information and typos?
Here are 5 common resume mistakes you should avoid to keep your resume away from the “no” pile:
1. Typos.
You may think that this is so basic that it is not even worth discussing. Of course there are no typos in my resume! Are you sure about that? You’d be surprised how many resumes contain at least one typo. I know that I am often guilty of this sin in my posts, despite my best attempts to keep them at a minimum. But when it comes to a resume - that's not something you want to take lightly.
Spell-checkers can be your best friend and your worst enemy. They can change words automatically, so quickly that you can easily miss the change, and they are only about 70% effective – they miss a lot of errors. So before you send out a resume, be sure to give is a ‘once over’ with a spell-checker, AND give it a second and third old-fashioned personal review. You can never be too careful.
2. Omitting Your Graduation Dates.
If I had a dollar for every resume I’ve received that's missing a graduation date, I’d give Warren Buffet a run for his money. The omission is always intentional, and it almost always comes from candidates who are more experienced. Why? Because they are worried that if they show that they graduated from law school in 1973, they may be passed over for a candidate who graduated in 1993. Is this a valid concern? Perhaps, but omitting a graduation date may actually do more harm than good.
First, the more to try to hide something, the more attention you bring to it. You are not fooling anyone; the omission will not go unnoticed. In fact, it will draw more attention to the fact that you did not include it, that you are uncomfortable with that fact, and that you may be more seasoned for the position than required.
Second, you are now making an employer guess what that date might be. Worse, it clearly shows that you are hiding something, and if it is something as innocuous as a graduation date, an employer can only guess what else you might not have been upfront about in your resume. Doubt creates questions, and questions create doubt. This is the last thing you want your resume to do.
3. Inaccurate or Missing Employment Dates.
If you are no longer employed with a company or firm, not making that fact known by keeping an open date (such as ‘1998-present’ or ‘2004-now’) or not including a date at all, is not only misleading but can be very damaging to a resume.
Obviously, you may be worried that if your resume reflects that you are no longer actively employed, it will be detrimental to your chances of securing a position. While this is a valid concern, it does not take away from the fact that you are not being straightforward with a potential employer.
Again the omission or inaccuracy on your resume will only bring more attention to the fact that you are currently unemployed, or that you have made lots of transitions in a short time period. If this is something you do not want to highlight any more than it has to be, just be honest and include the correct dates. If a potential employer has an issue with this, it is better that you know now rather than waste their time or yours.
Again, these types of omissions and inaccuracies will bring into question your good faith, honesty, and integrity. These are not things you want a potential employer to challenge. Honesty and full disclosure are the best policy when it comes to the information on your resume – you need to present yourself as you are, with the good, the bad, and the ugly.
4. Not Including Titles.
While a title is not always indicative of the type of work and/or level of responsibility of a particular position, it is nevertheless an important marker for employers to be able to examine. It may show an upward trend, highlight a lateral transition, or give one a better sense of where you are operating within a larger matrix. Without titles, you are not only forcing an employer to guess about your level, but you are also making them wonder about your progress.
5. Not Including Your Geographical Location.
This is probably the most difficult omission to understand. I have seen resumes that not only omit a candidate’s current address, but also fail to provide the location of their various positions altogether. Inevitably the question becomes: where is this candidate located, and where are they practicing? If the concern that prompted the omission is relocation, this approach to your resume will inevitably fail. Whether a company is willing to relocate a candidate or not, or is focusing on a particular region or not, is made well before a search begins. This is not a factor that will change based on one great candidate or resume alone.
Again, you need to be upfront with your location. Location can tell a lot about a candidate such as geographical ties, willingness to move etc. This is information that is important for an employer to be able to evaluate; when it is missing it casts doubt, and when time is limited and candidates are plentiful, it may earn the resume a one-way ticket to the “no” pile.
Conclusion. Next time you send out your resume, make sure you proofread it multiple times, and remember the following: honesty and full disclosure are the best policy.
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