1. Putting a picture on your resume. In theory, this may seem like a great idea. It shows the recruiter what you look like and may create a more familiar feeling during the interview. The problem is that it can also create an open case for discrimination. Many employers will not accept resumes with a picture on them for legal reasons, so it’s a good idea to leave it off. A picture sends up two warning flags – either you don’t know about current hiring practices or you are looking for a lawsuit. Either way, you will probably not get the interview.

2. Your inappropriate personal email address. Many of you have read this from me before, but I will stress it again because I still have students who submit a resume to me with an unsuitable email address. An employer doesn’t want to hire sexycarebear@… it is unprofessional and creates doubt in the employer’s mind about how you will represent the company.

3. Disconnected phone numbers. This is probably the number one way to miss an interview opportunity. Even though I have attended career fairs for many years, it is still shocking to see how many people hand out resumes with incorrect phone numbers. Recruiters will not track you down; you must make it easy for them to contact you. If you don’t have a valid phone number, or didn’t update your resume, regardless of your very good reason, your resume will likely hit the recycling bin.

4. Spelling and grammar errors. This is the number one pet peeve of most recruiters. Spell check your document and have a minimum of three friends proofread it. Then reread your resume before you hand it out – every time. Your resume is a reflection of you. Typos and grammar errors send the message that you don’t have a solid command of the English language, you lack communication skills, or you just don’t care enough to do your very best. Slow down, take your time with it and avoid having your resume sent to the bottom of the stack.

5. Too much personal information. Religious statements or affiliations, personal hobbies, birth date, social security number, number of children, or marital status are never expected or appropriate on a resume. Recruiters want to see a resume with information that shows your work history and skills, not what you like to do in your free time. Additionally, too much personal information can lead to discrimination (see point one above) and can cause an interviewer to halt the interview process. This is one time where less is more if you want to stay in the running.

Creating a streamlined, effective resume is like creating a work of art; it takes patience and time but is worth the effort. Finding a job is a full time job, so don’t waste a single minute by sending a resume that is anything less than perfect.

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1. TMI – That’s right … Too much information! An interviewer doesn’t need (or want!) to know about how long you spend at the gym, your addiction to military video games, your drinking habits or any other kind of not-so-professional fun we all have after work hours. Be aware that many interviewers check social networking sites to see what type of person you really are, so be sure to clean up your LinkedIn and Facebook pages before you start your job search. And when giving responses during the interview, be sure your body language and demeanor represent you as the same dignified professional your online presence portrays.

2. Not Researching the Company – There is nothing worse than showing up for an interview completely in the dark about your prospective employer. If the interviewer is going to take the time to get to know you and assess your fit into the company, you must do the same. Be sure to do your research at least three days prior to the interview. Read the information more than once so you can speak intelligently about the company in the interview. Information to gather includes how long the company has been in business, corporate culture, number of employees, and products and services offered by the company. Coming prepared with your own questions formulated in advance will show you’ve done your homework.

3. Arriving Late – If you can’t make it to the interview on time, you are better off pulling over to the side of the road and rescheduling for a day when you can be punctual. Arriving late to an interview is a sign that you are either irresponsible or chronically late, neither of which looks favorable. By calling, before your scheduled arrival time, you still may have a chance at saving face and landing the job. Better yet, to avoid this whole scenario in the first place, make a dry run the day before your interview to be sure you know the exact interview location and traffic conditions along the route.

4. Bad Hygiene – A sure way to ruin a job interview is to show up less than, ahem, clean. Think of a job interview as a first date and put your very best foot forward. Even if you usually go three days between hair washes, nothing says clean and tidy like a complete shower just before your appointment. Make sure your fingernails are presentable and your breath is fresh. If you are a smoker, be sure to wash your hands and arms after smoking and to bring mouthwash and a toothbrush to rinse your mouth of any lingering odor. And finally, give thought to your attire by wearing professional and clean clothing that flatters you, keeping in mind that it is always better to be overdressed than under.

5. Watch Your Mouth – An interview is no time to get lazy with your language. Human resources people often try to make an interview a comfortable and calm experience. Even so, if you find that you share a love of the same crazy comedian with your interviewer, it’s better to be safe than sorry and keep the racy quips to yourself. While you should be yourself and avoid being stiff, don’t get too comfortable. Never use profanity and don’t ever speak poorly about a previous job or supervisor.

A first interview makes a first impression – avoid cutting corners and trust in the basics I have outlined above. Not only will you feel more confident, you’ll have more time to worry about what really counts – showing the interviewer you are the right candidate for the job.

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With the holiday weekend fast approaching I thought this might be a useful topic to discuss. Every opportunity to meet new people or catch up with friends and family can be a learning opportunity.  Learning opportunities don’t just present themselves in formal educational settings. If you’re looking for a career advancement, enhancement, or looking for a change, conversing with friends and family members may give you the idea you weren’t really looking for, but the ones that set you on the path you desire.

1. Remember this is a party. Be sure you aren’t just talking business. Opportunities don’t just present themselves in business conversations. Sometimes asking a friend you haven’t seen in a few months what there up to gives you all kinds of great “Intel” for your career. For example, I was recently at a social event. When I started talking to someone I hadn’t seen in a while I learned they were taking a new Project Management course. As a certified project manager and a trainer, this was really good information for me. That night I was able to research, learn, and grow based on what I discussed earlier that day. At a different event, I learned a friend had taken a job as an HR Specialist at a company one of my customers wanted to work for.
2. Move around the room. Many people have specific friends they like to chat with at every party. Take the opportunity to join in on conversations with people you don’t usually sit with or converse with. You’ll be amazed what you can learn from new friends.
3. Listen, Listen, Listen – As Dale Carnegie said “remember that the people you are talking to are a hundred times more interested in themselves and their wants and problems than they are in you and your problems.” Ask engaging questions, so you can learn more. Don’t tune the conversation out. Even if you don’t understand fully, you’ll be amazed at what little tid-bits of information can be turned into.
4. Most importantly have fun. Nicholas Sparks said, “In the blink of an eye, something happens by chance, when you least expect it, sets you on a course that you never planned, into a future you never imagined.” If you hear something that interests you, go home and research the topic.

Have a safe and healthy July 4^th!

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