Hello all!

My name is Candace Smith and I am a senior marketing major attending Howard University. I am a participant in a program called “Students Helping Start-Ups” and I have the pleasant experience of working with the start-up company, CVCertify, along with my classmate Shay. CVCertify is a fabulous tool for both job seekers and recruiters! Job seekers create “ProofSheets” which consist of a selection of validated claims that tie to their ability to meet particular job requirements.  Candidates use their professional references to verify accomplishments. Genius right! Not only are recruiters able to discover top candidates while saving both time and money but it also allows job seekers to stand out from the average candidate due to their verified ProofSheet. If a job seeker were to use CVCertify and follow my tips below, he or she will have taken their first step towards creating quite a valuable impression upon recruiters! So let’s get started!

  • Have you ever wondered why you didn’t receive a call back or land an interview to a position you applied to?
  • Did you know resumes go through a pass/fail process normally within a matter of 10 seconds?

I recently attended an Ogilvy branding information session and the two speakers emphasized how important it is to have an impressive resume to get your foot in the door.

Here are some mistakes that students seem to make over and over again:

(1) Lack of Consistency

  • Have the same format and text selection for the duration of the entire resume
  • Use the past tense for activities completed previously
  • Use the present tense for ongoing activities

(2) Low GPA Listing

  • If your GPA is under a 3.0 leave it off!

(3) Questionable Progression

  • Recruiters want to see achievements and progress; don’t simply list responsibilities
  • How did you make a difference in the position you held?

(4) Appropriate Length

  • 1 page maximum
  • To shorten the length take out irrelevant job experience or jobs from years ago – keep it current!

(5) Use a professional email address

  • It’s okay to want to show your personality but do it in other ways

(5) Lack of focus

  • Be specific yet concise in your descriptions; use action verbs

(7) Grammar Errors

  • Don’t be lazy – reread, spell-check, and review your resume for errors!

Remember your resume is not simply a required document; it is a marketing tool!

On a lighter note please please PLEASE do not become one of the candidates on the “Resumes from Hell” website.

Good luck my fellow job seekers.