Mindstream Training

Salaries should be included into your resume

Sometimes

Depends on position applying for

Never

When your salary expectations are lower than the advertised pay

Reference names with contact information should be included in resumes

Sometimes

If a reference is a well known or famous person

Never

Send as an attached page to the resume

Include only professional references and exclude personal references

Include if the reference worked for the company you are applying to

Can position title be changed if it does not describe responsibilities or functions properly?

Yes, if done creatively and the title does not reflect all responsibilities

No. It would be deceptive to change a company title

Titles can be changed to any title you want

Eliminate the title if it does not improve your marketability

All unemployment gaps should be included in your resume.

Yes. Use exact month and year dates

No. It's unnecessary and only serves to weaken your chances while cluttering your resume

Depends on your occupation such as financial services

Unemployment gaps, if any, can show your honesty and work stability

How many pages should a resume have?

Always 1 page

Always 2 pages

Sometime 3 pages but only if the position is academic or research, requiring lists of presentations and publications

Depending on scope of career

Your educational and training credentials should always be listed first in your resume.

Yes, if you are a recent graduate, or if you are a career-changer and recent education relates to your new occupation

Yes, always at the top of the first page

Yes, if you are pursuing an academic career.

No. If you have related experience, it's more effective to present your employment track record first

Resumes should show only your last 10 years of experience.

Yes, it's unimportant and irrelevant to show all previous experience

No, any relevant experiences could show other skillsets that could be advantageous

It is acceptible to show 20 or more years depending on your management or technical level

All employment information is necessary and should be included

What is a resume?

Description of your work experience and educational credentials

A marketing piece

A job application

A chronological history of your jobs

Employer names can be changed

Yes, if the employer name is industry-specific and does not improve your opportunities

Yes, if done creatively

No. Changing an employer name would be considered misleading

Pronouns, such as 'I' and 'my' can be used in resumes

Yes, because resumes are written in 'first person' grammatical approach

No. Resumes are written in 'first person' with an understood 'I'

Sometimes, if stressing personal achievements or accomplishments outside work history

Other pronouns such as "we" and "they" can be used if a group effort needs to be conveyed

Personal information such as interests, activities, organizations and hobbies should be included in resumes.

No, because it does not relate to employment

Yes. Interests, activities and hobbies give a one-dimensional resume personality and can serve to arouse curiosity

Sometimes to show early leadership, technical, interpersonal or organizational experiences

All should be included especially if current

Resumes should start with an 'Objective' ('Position').

Yes, if your career direction is clear

No, you can use a "Career Summary" to capsulize your background and career aspirations

No, a cover letter can be used to express your aspirations

Always include both Objective and Summary

Age (Date of Birth) and other personal info (driver's licens, photo, race) can be included in the resume.

Never. It violates equal rights and/or Privacy Act

No. Hiding age will be considered deceptive and misleading

If you prefer so

Human languages spoken/written should be included

No.

Only if it is relevant to the nature of responsibilities

Always

Cover letters are optional when appling for a position.

Yes. A resume presents all the necessary information

Yes, if an employer initialized communication

No. A cover letter explains why you are sending the resume and what you can offer the potential employer

Cover letters can convey your style, personality and enthusiasm

Sometimes, especially if you are filling out an on-line form

Owning a business is a positive experience that should be included in a resume.

Yes. It shows leadership, organizational and entreprenurial talents

No. An entreprenuer is perceived as too independent and would serve as an impediment

Entreprenuers are more desirable as employees because of their multidisciplined skills and experiences

Business owners require less training and are more prepared to assume leadership roles

A career-changing resume should detail all employment experiences.

Only transferable or generic, non-industry specific skills should be included

Employers should receive complete details of previous experiences, even if the experience is unrelated

How long are resumes reviewed?

5-10 seconds

10-15 seconds

15-60 seconds

As long as necessary

On the average, how many resumes are reviewed for each job?

15-50

50-150

150-500

500-1000

Resume books, software, career counselors, recruiters, human resource professionals, and career services at educational institutions can help in producing perfect resumes.

Sometimes, especially if your career track is simple and linear

Rarely. They all have their own perspective which may be inappropriate for you, so they can create defects unwittingly

All the time. Professionals in career and employment fields have the proper perspective

Should not be used because resumes are an art-form requiring different customized approaches. Everyone has a unique configuration of skills, abilities, talents and credentials

CHECK YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF RESUME What They Never Tell You

CHECK YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF RESUME
What They Never Tell You