You may recall that last week I had a few tips to consider when applying to graduate school. While I’m joking with many of them, sometimes I come across applicant resumes that remind me why people are willing to pay for help with their resumes…and why more people probably should at least Google it.
Comic Sans is not your friend. Did you know there is an entire website dedicated to banning Comic Sans? I’m neither educated in design nor a visual artist of note, but I don’t need to be to tell you that it’s not a font you want to use in any professional document. Other fonts not to try?
If you’re laughing at the ridiculousness and not at the sad truth, I’m going to assume you don’t work in admissions or hire new employees very often.
Your email address will be read aloud. I’ve said it before but it deserves to be said again: your email address says more about you than where you live and almost as much as where you went to school. Also, if it could be the name of a stripper, it’s a safe bet that you will not have money thrown your way.
Emails I’ve seen include the infamous paperchaser, poop.scoop, lazybones, and spicyvixen.
A combination of your name, initials, and/or numbers will do just fine, thank you.
We do not hire based on age, race, or gender. Unless you’re an actor or model, your picture will not be weighed in the consideration of your professional qualifications.
It will, however, be judged. And laughed at. model, a picture is not going to be considered with your professional qualifications.
In addition to senior pictures, cropped family portraits, and passport photos attached to resumes past, I once saw the resume of a girl applying to a nursing program that included her softball picture.
Hobbies are filler. Unless your hobby is volunteer work or somehow relates to the job, company, or program you’re applying to, I don’t actually care how you spend your free time.
This may go against what you’ve been told before, but I’m pretty sure that advice is only given to high school students with zero experience. Listing hobbies has a better chance of getting someone to assume you won’t get along that intrigue their hiring senses.
For example, Softball Girl also included square dancing as a hobby. Can you think of anything more annoying than a square dancing nurse?
What bad resumes have you seen?
The dodgiest email address that I’ve ever seen on a resume included “filthgal69″ in it. Enough said.
If I got an email from that person I’d immediately assume it had gotten through my spam filter.