Why do many Java/J2EE Resumes fail to impress the employer?

[arulk]

Most resumes fail because they


-- Fail to highlight achievements & don't use action verbs.
-- Uses ordinary phrases without being results oriented and credible.
-- Markets him/her as just a techie (not as a well-rounded candidate)
-- 5-7 pages packed with irrelevant and trivial information fulfilling HIS/HER needs NOT the employer’s needs.
-- Starts with “responsibilities included” in many places
-- One size fits all resume. The same resume is emailed or reprinted as required. This is wasting an opportunity to present you in the best possible way.
-- Important information is scattered throughout the pages in the resume.
Starts with a standard format:


--Elaborate contact details.

--Leaving out the objective, especially, if you are a novice or making a career change.
--Elaborate career objectives.
--Education details listing every course details and certificates.
--Employment history listing every trivial and non related task.
--Large skills list and failing to include relevant and highly sought after skills.


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[Eranga]

Well said pal. What I believe is, employee should be able to proof the content of his resume to the employer at time both are met. What I have seen in most of the cases is, employee fail to explain what he really said in the resume to impress the employer.

[bryanwizard]

i agree with eranga

thanks to this post.

[georgemc]

Some very good observations from the OP.

Long CVs go straight in the bin if I get them. Anything over 3 pages is pushing it.

Anything that lists "Windows" or "Unix" as a skill goes straight in the bin. They're not skills. If you can't expand on that, you basically mean "I have used this operating system". Who cares?

Anything that boasts - in the bin.

Anyone claiming to be an expert - gets an interview, and gets hauled over hot coals in it

Anybody that fails to appear human goes in the bin. I always put some sort of joke in my CV somewhere, and everyone that's ever employed me, and some interviewers, have said it was a positive factor. We're recruiting people, not sets of skills. Show you're a person

Lists of buzzwords go straight in the bin. Or they'll get a phone interview and given endless trick questions, for pure sport

I don't want a list of the APIs and tools you used on your last job, thankyouverymuch!

I saw a CV last week where the candidate spend 4 pages talking very in-depth about their last-but-one job. Who cares? In the bin

Something I'm seeing more and more of, and will be adopting soon myself, is writing a CV in the third person. It gives readers the subconscious impression that it is indeed someone else telling them how good the candidate is, even though readers know full well it isn't. Subtle and effective.

Something important to remember about recruitment: when sifting through CVs, we're looking for reasons NOT to employ you. In your first interview, we're looking for reasons to GIVE you the job. In the final interviews, we're looking again for reasons NOT to give you the job. Bear that in mind

[georgemc]

Quote:

Originally Posted by arulk

Most resumes fail because they


-- Fail to highlight achievements & don't use action verbs.
-- Uses ordinary phrases without being results oriented and credible.
-- Markets him/her as just a techie (not as a well-rounded candidate)
-- 5-7 pages packed with irrelevant and trivial information fulfilling HIS/HER needs NOT the employer’s needs.
-- Starts with “responsibilities included” in many places
-- One size fits all resume. The same resume is emailed or reprinted as required. This is wasting an opportunity to present you in the best possible way.
-- Important information is scattered throughout the pages in the resume.
Starts with a standard format:

--Elaborate contact details.

--Leaving out the objective, especially, if you are a novice or making a career change.
--Elaborate career objectives.
--Education details listing every course details and certificates.
--Employment history listing every trivial and non related task.
--Large skills list and failing to include relevant and highly sought after skills.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eranga

Well said pal. What I believe is, employee should be able to proof the content of his resume to the employer at time both are met. What I have seen in most of the cases is, employee fail to explain what he really said in the resume to impress the employer.

Good point. Anyone can get someone to write their CV for them. The best interviews I've had - both as a candidate and an interviewer - are the ones where the candidate turns it into a conversation about the industry. I've been in an interview where the interviewer only asked me two questions, and the rest of the time we just chatted about domain problems and tech stuff. I got offered the job on the way home from it, but turned it down

[Eranga]

Sometimes candidates are fail to express there thoughts depends on the interview panel. In some cases there are more than five persons in the panel. I've that experience, in my second interview just after passing out from the University. In that panel there are 8 members, and I'm really excited at the time they interview me. After the interview I came out and just think what I have say, actually nothing. I've plan to talk more things, but fail.

By the way, it's good point to bring a copy of the same resume you have send a specific organization, etc. Sometimes they ask a another resume from you at that point. It's a trick. They are going to tally your resumes, and try to find what you say is right or wrong.

[arulk]

In fact a resume should arouse the curiosity of a prospective employer in the first page itslef.


Resume is not a shopping list of everything you did in the past. It should have carefully chosen list of accomplishments.

[Eranga]

The way it's structured also more important. I've seen that, some people have more than five pages in his/her resume but nothing to take out there. But some people has only one page, but everything want to highlight is there.