Harsh Facts You Need To Know About CVs

"Your resume doesn't define you."

"You are not your resume. "

"You are much more than a piece of paper."

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These are popular feel-good sentiments I see some HR folk drop every once in a while on their feeds.

Sure, I understand the "spirit" of the statement. If your resume or LI profile was tabled, don't let that discourage you. OK.

But some people buy into such statements which, in turn, leads to inaction that can be damaging to a candidate.

While a resume/profile certainly may not be able to capture our full worth, this doesn't relieve us from the duty of making it exceptionally impressive.

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Networking is important but your resume is more likely to be the first point of introduction in a job queue.

A business in its right mind would never settle for a mediocre hoarding on a busy street.

Similarly, a resume/online profile is our billboard on the job highway. To get heads to turn, it needs to stand out.

Yet, I see professionals circulating substandard resumes while scratching their heads as to why they aren't winning interview calls.

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In my experience, every 2 out of 3 resumes have the following issues:

1. Using dense, unscannable formats
2. Little alignment with the JD in question
3. Broken portfolio links
4. Spelling or grammatical errors
5. Irrelevant sections like hobbies
6. Overly long resumes
7. Infestation of random buzzwords
8. Percentages (e.g. growth, retention, revenue) peppered throughout without base values or benchmarks
9. Incredibly long list of skills

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A few months back, I remember HR setup an interview for me with an energetic marketing candidate who was simply fantastic. I was floored.

However, when I connected with her on LinkedIn & glanced through her profile, it left a lot to be desired.

Her experiences were heavily undersold and the content was surprisingly thin. If it wasn't for her cover letter (saving grace), I doubt she'd be even shortlisted.

So, regardless of what someone tells you, realize that you carry the onus of preparing a great resume that best represents you.

The better you craft it, the more likely it'll jam a foot-in-the-door for that coveted interview.