Resume Help

Lately, I've been seeing so many hackneyed phrases on resumes at every professional level. Here are the top six phrases I see job seekers using to describe themselves over and over again that are sure to get your resume tossed in the no pile.

1. trustworthy
2. team player
3. flexible
4. good communicator
5. problem solver
6. works well under pressure

Over the years as a career professional, I've had clients tell me about some pretty bad resume writing advice they have received. Here are the top five pieces of advice that I believe all job seekers should ignore.

In 2009, we witnessed the passing of many great icons in entertainment, art, sports, journalism, and politics. And with their passing comes an opportunity to reflect on their unique career brand and the legacy they left. Walter Cronkite, Michael Jackson, Ted Kennedy, Patrick Swayze, Farrah Fawcett...all had strong brands that conjured up certain images in our minds. But strong career brands are not just for the rich and famous.

My son has a name that is very common in some parts of the world but not very common in the United States. When you hear a person's name, do certain thoughts and associations come to mind? I started thinking about how birth names might affect a job seeker's candidacy and wondering if they can actually play a role in the hiring process. Here are three situations where I think in some cases, a job seeker's name could potentially influence the hiring decision.

This is part two in our series examining people's excuses for not creating more compelling content for their resumes and tips for moving past the excuses. Which of these excuses are holding you back?

Writing a Better Resume: Part One >>

I have met thousands of people who perform miracles at work every day. They pour their heart and soul into their work and offer their employers their knowledge and skills to help make those companies a success. But you would never know it if you looked at the resumes most people write for themselves. People can usually articulate what they do, but they generally don't convey why what they do is important or who derives value from their actions. They neglect to tie their job tasks to impact. They fail to create a compelling argument for why a hiring manager should give them a chance. The reasons for this vary from person to person but here are the most common excuses I hear from job seekers. Do any of these sound like you?

Submitting a resume to a recruiter or hiring manager is often the first step in building a relationship with an employer. Job seekers make decisions about what to add and omit from their resume in an effort to put their best foot forward and land an interview. But frequently, job seekers adopt a writing strategy that leaves their foot in their mouth instead. I talk to recruiters and hiring managers all the time to learn what they like to see on a resume and what drives them crazy.

Here are five strategies you may want to rethink if your current resume is reflective of any of these practices.