As we look forward winding down 2011, (and what a year it was!) I wanted to share a few tips with you on how to get your 2012 job search started on the right foot. So here it is…my Top 10 Resume Mistakes!

Mistake #10) Using the standard Microsoft resume template that comes free with the software.
This is a mistake because you’re showing employers that you’ve put no thought into a professional and unique presentation. Any hiring manager or recruiter can spot an MS template a mile away.

Mistake #9) Starting the resume with an Objective Statement.
Big mistake! Most objectives sound like, “To obtain a challenging position in a growing company where I can utilize my skills and education”. Any employer’s first question will be, “Do you want to be a CFO or a cocktail waitress?” Unfortunately, this objective statement could apply to either, which means it should be applied to neither. Instead, create a 3-5 sentence Summary Statement that presents your top-level skills and clearly shows how you are unique and better-qualified than other candidates competing for the same job.

Mistake #8) Formatting with paragraphs instead of bullets in the body of the resume.
This is a mistake because people don’t sit down and read your resume like they do the newest John Irving novel. Instead, they skim and skip. This means that your best information could be buried in the middle of a paragraph…and never seen by human eyes. This is why bullet points are so important.

Mistake #7) Bullets that sound as if you cut and pasted them from your job descriptions.
If a company is hiring for an Administrative Assistant, they already know what one does. Therefore, bullets that say you type, file, create reports and answer the phone are a waste of space. Instead, use that space to state the great work you did on the job, and the positive impact that you made. If you are in a supportive role, use your bullets to discuss how your support has made someone else successful – all while focusing on your own accomplishments, results and impact.

Mistake #6) Don’t tailor your resume to the job.
Employers are inundated with hundreds of resumes for each job lead. The fastest way to a “thanks, but no thanks” letter is sending a generic resume that highlights skills or experience that the employer doesn’t need. Show your potential employers (through a well-crafted resume) that you have read the job posting, that you are qualified, and that you’re capable of solving the company’s problems.

Mistake #5) Overstate your skills.
As a resume writer, it’s my job to deliver the best resume possible that our clients have EARNED. What I mean by this is that it’s a fine line between putting your best foot forward on a resume, and lying. Recruiters, hiring managers and others who read resumes for a living are trained to spot the exaggerations.

Mistake #4) Go over 2 pages.
I get it; you’re special. You’re unique. Your mom thinks you’re amazing. But your future employers don’t want to know that much about you! Your 15 year history must be condensed within the boundaries of 2 pages…but 1 page is best. For those of you who think it can’t be done, it can. One of my clients is the former General Manager of a Fortune 500 food company. He had a 40-year career history yet he left my office with a 1-page resume. He was hired by another Fortune 500 within a few weeks. If it works for him, it works for you.

Mistake #3) Pretty it up with graphics and colorful fonts.
No one EVER got a job because their name was printed in blue. I’ve also noticed an odd trend lately where candidates are putting their former employers’ logos on the resume. The truth is, this is theft of intellectual property. Employers are more than happy to repay the favor with a bad reference, so don’t risk it! I understand why candidates do these things. Times are tough and you’re looking for any way to stand out from the crowd. Stand out with your accomplishments, not gimmicks.

Mistake #2) Downgrade or devalue your experience.
Again, write yourself the best resume you’ve earned. That works on both sides of the coin. Don’t exaggerate, but don’t be afraid to brag a bit when you’ve actually earned the accolades. If you accomplished something amazing at work and DON’T include it in your resume, it might as well never have happened. Keep track of your accomplishments and update your resume frequently.

Mistake #1) Don’t proofread.
Here’s a true story: Through networking, a young man about 5 years into his career was lucky enough to schedule a coffee meeting with an employer. The meeting went very well. It went so well that the employer even re-wrote some of the job description to perfectly match the young candidate’s qualifications! In other words, the job was his to lose. All he had to do was turn in a resume and cover letter as a formality. In his haste to deliver his materials, he misspelled the employer’s name and made two other typos in the cover letter. Guess what? He lost the job…and a $15K bump in salary. I don’t care if the employer is standing in your home, tapping her foot, waiting for you to print out your resume and cover letter – take the time you need to proofread your materials, and have someone else do the same. If you ever think you don’t need to proofread, just remember ‘The $15,000 Typo’.

So there you have it, folks…my Top 10 Resume Mistakes. Are you committing any of them? Use the holiday slow-down to carefully go through your materials, to ensure that your 2012 job search is fruitful. The entire ResuMAYDAY team is wishing you the best success!

CUSTOMER SERVICE OPENINGS FOR MANUFACTURING FIRM – Melrose Park
Ideal candidate will have experience in the following areas:
• Developing strong professional relationships.
• Resolve customer issues in a timely manner.
• Fulfill literature and sample requests as required.
• Receive and process all inquiries related to order entry.
• Process all incoming requests for shipment information from both internal and external based customers.
• Issuing “Return Good Authorizations.”
• Communicating with our Logistics Department.
• Process all incoming purchase orders.
• Prepare quotes for customers.
• Manage claims with freight companies and customers.
• Process all customer leads.
• Fill out order complement sheet paperwork and facilitate entire transaction through to resolution.
• Grow with us: Teach and train new associates as they join the Customer Service team.
Ideal candidate will have 1-3 years’ experience in a manufacturing or distribution environment.

Additional Opportunity for a Sample Room Specialist – Forest Park

Compensation $30-32K
RESUMES CAN BE FORWARDED TO terri@tkgcareerconsultants.com

Audit Support (contract); Project Coordinator (advertising and marketing); lots of Accountant jobs; lots of Auditor jobs; receptionist; Director-Voice User Experience; Controller; Sales, Database Developer and others at Corptax.com; National Director of Real Estate Alliances…and a few others! Click on link: Jobs110811

Thanks to Presentation Coach extraordinaire, Ellen Lerner, Dramatic Solutions, Inc., here are some really amazing job opportunities throughout Chicagoland. Thanks, Ellen!
1) Technology Training and Support Associate: Business Automation Solutions in Chicago needs a Goldmine, Maximizer and Salesforce trainer for their customers and channel partners. Same person will also facilitate the company’s social marketing. Email resume to Pamela Pearl, ppearl@moreproductive.com.

2) Bed Bath and Beyond, Buy Buy Baby and Harmon Discount (same parent company) are hiring at all levels. Jobs are posted on the website.

3) Delivery Driver – class A license required for South Holland Bakery. 708-709-2100.

4) Sr. Accountant. CPA preferred but not mandatory. Experience in tax codes specific to non-profits IS required. Call Jason Siegel at 630-472-1700 x1760.

5) Sr. Accountant and MANY other job openings for really cool companies listed at www.idealist.org. Dream big!

6) Relationship Sr. Manager, Investments at Allstate Investments. Contact recruiter J’ai Batey at 847-402-8838 or jai.batey@allstate.com.

OK, I can’t even type that with a straight face. But here’s why I say that. Ageism (discriminating against a person because of their age) is illegal per the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, which protects individuals who are 40 years of age or older.

So here’s the problem with that. Ageism is illegal; therefore, companies “don’t” practice it. Again, because it’s illegal. And because companies “don’t” practice it, they don’t have to have policies in place against it. Think about it this way. Running a meth lab from an industrial laundry is illegal. (Oh, how I love Breaking Bad.) Therefore, the HR department of that industrial laundry isn’t required to have a policy that specifically states that employees cannot use the laundry facility to manufacture illegal drugs, and, the HR department doesn’t have to spend their time, money and other resources training against it. It’s the same thing for ageism.

Unfortunately, this means that a lot of crucial conversations are not happening, snap judgments against older candidates are being made and an entire talent pool is being left out of the hiring process. Over the past three years, the team here at ResuMAYDAY has worked with more folks from the 50+ sector than in any other time in our 10 year history. I’d like to share a few ideas on how older job seekers can give themselves a competitive advantage in today’s employment market. If you have any ideas of your own, please share them in the comments section.

1) Focus on the most recent aspects of your career, within the past 10-15 years. In today’s employment market, relevant=recent. The first thing an employer looks at on one’s resume is where and when you last worked. They want to see how your most current skills will match the company’s immediate needs and will enhance the company’s overall productivity. This means that all those great things you did 20 years ago simply do not have as much impact anymore.

2) Put heavy emphasis on your technical proficiencies. Technology has forever changed the business landscape and those who don’t keep up will fall behind. Sign up for training if need be; free courses are offered through libraries, job support clubs and even government-funded programs. Are you on LinkedIn? You should be. LinkedIn.com is where employers and recruiters are finding candidates, and it’s a great way to show that you are comfortable using technology and social networking. Another way to embrace technology is by starting a blog. Writing a blog is super-simple to do, with big ROI. (Just an FYI, this is my blog.) What should you write about? How about changes and trends in your industry, or thought-leaders and news-makers? Add your blog’s link to your resume, making your intelligent insights available to potential employers. When done the right way, you will easily stand out from other candidates.

3) On your resume, illustrate examples of working well with multi-generational teams. Show that you are able to collaborate with Gen X and Gen Y as an equal partner – not just as a supervisor. Younger managers need to know that despite an age difference, you will respect and listen to them, and will take their guidance and ideas seriously.

4) Embrace new methods of job seeking that weren’t around when you first looked for a job. For my money, it’s all about networking, both in-person and online. For this reason, LinkedIn cannot be ignored. Every recruiter that I talk to now cites LinkedIn as the place they go (more than monster.com or other job search sites) to find qualified candidates. Get involved with LinkedIn groups that pertain to your industry and interests. The resources contained within this one site are limitless! But let’s also get away from the computer. In-person networking is a must! Become a member of industry associations, job clubs, business groups – even your local chamber of commerce. It’s the perfect place to rub elbows with potential employers.

I truly hope these quick tips are useful to you. Again, I encourage you to add to this list. Until ageism *actually* ceases to exist in corporate American, we HAVE to keep talking about this.