Top 5 Mistakes In Your Resume That Can Snatch Away Your Engineering Job

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It goes without saying that your resume reflects yourself and your credibility’. Despite modern advances, it is worth noting that the whole concept of resume (different from Curriculum Vitae) has remained traditional. Therefore, with your resume serving as your business card, you need to take care of certain aspects, even though minor, which could get you off the minds of recruiters.

Now, remember that a resume is applicable to all levels of employees and across sectors; ranging from freshers to the senior level job-seekers. This list also includes engineers. In a bid to guide engineers (freshers as well as the professionals in eliminating resume mistakes, we spoke to multiple human resource experts who have detailed the below aspects to be avoided and followed before sharing profiles with recruiters:

No Proof reading = no job

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As per Joseph Devasia of Anal International (a leading recruitment firm) who specialises in senior executive recruitment assignments for both medium and large-scale companies, proof-reading is equivalent to cleaning of hands upon having food. Joseph cautions job-seekers to always proof-read multiple times before sending resumes via emails (to recruiters).

Remember that spelling errors reflects carelessness and lack of attention for finer details. Neglecting this could lead to instant rejection form the recruiter.

This is seconded by a seasoned senior recruiter at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Bangalore who offered insights on the condition of anonymity. The recruiter also claimed to have directly (and unilaterally) closed communication with even experienced engineering job-seekers as their resumes were not proof-read reflecting glaring errors.

Over reliance on the internet

You are better off using the INTERNET as only a basic reference to a resume format. Do not copy and use the same format. Experts caution job-seekers from falling prey to this dangerously surging trend.

“Stereo typed internet copied resumes are very cliché and are a strict no-no today”, states Priyaa Arya, mentor and counsellor at Bangalore-based Banjara Academy which is a leading career counselling firm.

It is also essential to use the same font size and type in the resume. “Different fonts should be preferred only in case a major career achievement has to be highlighted.”, states Purnima Ganesh – director of programs, Banjara Academy.

Before everything, have a professional sounding email id

Strange, yet true. Recruiters believe that a professional sounding email id is one of the key essentials for an impressive resume. This means that it is best if you avoid ids such as [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], and more.

Joseph Devasia states that it is best for senior professionals to avoid email ids like the ones above. “Well there’s nothing wrong with it however sometimes these email addresses are embarrassing as they have some funny adjectives that go along with it and as senior professionals you wouldn’t have to be embarrassed because of a juvenile email address.”, emphasises Joseph.

“It’s advisable to have a separate email address for business use on only”.

Your professional aim and objectives can also get you your dream job; don’t neglect them

Ensure that the aim and objectives are in sync with the job you are applying for. Read up the job description carefully and thoroughly, and then formulate your objectives. It is also advisable to have the objectives printed at the initial part of your resume.

“The fact is that every time there is a change in your job profile, you should make that change on your resumes immediately”, advises Joseph. In this regard, take care of even minor things, while sending don’t be in a hurry. Revise your resumes accordingly.

Don’t ever over-rate yourself in the resume

Experts have rated over-rating of achievements as accounting for nearly 75% of rejections. Remember that top recruiters ask questions based on achievements. Over representation of these will make it difficult for you to answer tricky questions thereby making you look incompetent.

“In fact, we have a strict policy to filter candidates by targeting their achievements, and framing questions around these. For engineers, it is best to offer precise details regarding their projects (worked on), any diversion could lead to deduction in points”, stated the senior TCS recruiter (on anonymity).

There are other mistakes in the list as well

Seasoned recruiters believe that even the length and machine-readability of resumes matter when it comes to selecting candidates and filtering them out. Machine readability is especially applicable to senior professionals; most of the top engineering companies today have an automated online digital process to obtain candidate resumes/profiles. Usage of right keywords (could be skillsets, designation, work area, and more) could potentially lead to resumes getting detected on priority.

Size matters

Purnima advises job-seekers to limit their resume to a maximum of two pages. “A resume exceeding two pages could give jitters to even experienced recruiters”, adds Priyaa.  Hence, always tone down your resume by eliminating all unnecessary info. Evaluate yourself perfectly.

You also have a digital footprint, find it now

“Networking sites like LinkedIn are considered digital resumes, most interviewers Google their prospects before meeting them, understanding them”, states Joseph.

Your digital work always adds value to your resume. In case you run a blog, do include links. Engineers have lot of their work as shareable materials online; therefore, showcasing these should do no harm. However, remember to list out the best ones among these. Advantage you gain here is that your interviewer is exposed to your industry knowledge, professional contacts which could potentially serve as assets to the company in case you crack the interview, and finally your practical expertise.

Finally, be yourself, don’t fudge

It is not difficult for seasoned recruiters to verify your resume details. “We carry out intensive background checks on every candidate, to detect fudging. Even career setbacks must be openly discussed while interviewing”, signs-off the TCS recruitment professional.

So does a perfect resume really exist?

Yes, and No. Experts in recruitment compare a full resume to a horse that is only taken near water. However, the horse should be self-motivated and thirsty to drink water; this refers to your skill-sets and the hunger you have for the job applied to. Showcase these to the recruiter, apply your skills in evaluation tests, and grab that dream engineering job that you have wanted with all your heart.

Experts consulted for the story:

• Joseph Devasia – Managing Partner at Antal International’s Mumbai Office
• Purnima Ganesh – Director of Programs at Banjara Academy, Bangalore
• Priyaa Arya – Mentor and Counselor at Banjara Academy, Bangalore
• A senior recruiter at TCS, Bangalore, who spoke to us on the condition of anonymity.

The article was updated on 6 April 2017 by by Rahul R, Senior Technical Journalist at EFY Group.