Sifting through Resume Myths

While searching for tips on resume writing, don’t be surprised if you come across diametrically opposite advice. There are several approaches to building a resume and people may have different opinions which could  be totally contradictory. These conflicting points of view may confuse you especially if you are in urgent need of a professional resume and do not really have the time to sort out the facts.

 Well, our resume website answers all your doubts to give you reliable and expert advice about the dos and don’ts of resume writing. We have for you some popular resume myths along with the correct perspective that you should adopt. It will help you to discard the misleading assumptions about resumes and enable you to build one that is based on proven truths.

Let’s bust some popular resume myths

Myth: Its fine to make one generic resume to be sent to all the jobs applied for

Fact: Sending the same resume along with every application is like trying to fit each candidate into the same outfit. Taking the trouble to tailor your resume to suit the requirements, values and visions of the different organizations you have applied to, convey a sincerity and clarity of thought that recruiters find impossible to ignore. Therefore going that extra step to create a special resume for every application would surely reap rich dividends

Myth: Mention each and every job you have done till date

Fact: Relevance is the main attribute that recruiters value the most. Therefore even if you have an array of previous work experiences lined up, they would be of no use if they are not relevant to the post applied for. They would actually divert attention away from your resume. So ensure that your employment history is in tune with the post sought and as you progress in your designation, you could slowly start eliminating the earliest jobs from your resume.

Myth: You don’t need to include voluntary work in your resume

Fact: Voluntary or unpaid work conveys a great deal about your character and shows you to be a self motivated individual driven by selfless goals. If the honorary work happens to be connected to the job you are currently applied for, then it would surely be a huge boost to your candidature.

Myth: It’s the norm to include hobbies and interests

Fact: A resume is a professional document and it is important to make judicious use of the space available to you to project yourself in the best possible light. Mentioning casual hobbies which bear no relevance to your qualifications would not help brighten your chances in any way whatsoever. However if your hobby is in congruence with your profession then it would surely make sense to include it.

Myth: You could mention salary expectations

Fact: It is best to keep mum about your salary expectations in your resume as they may well work against you. If you quote too high, it could turn the recruiters away from your resume. On the other hand a lower figure could lead you to a job where you may end up getting underpaid. It is impossible to predict the figure that the employers have in mind so your best bet would be to evade the salary issue entirely in your resume.

Now that you know the resume myths you need to guard against, go on, let your better judgement prevail to help you write a flawless resume.

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