EMPLOYMENT


Page 19 Avoid the Top 10 Resume Mistakes


By PETER VOGT Monster Senior Contributing Writer


It’s deceptively easy to make mistakes


on your resume and exceptionally diffi cult to repair the damage once an employer gets it. So prevention is critical, whether you’re writing your fi rst resume or revising it for a mid-career job search. Check out this re- sume guide to the most common pitfalls and how you can avoid them. 1. Typos and grammatical errors Your resume needs to be grammati- cally perfect. If it isn’t, employers will read between the lines and draw not-so-fl atter- ing conclusions about you, like: “This per- son can’t write,” or “This person obviously doesn’t care.” 2. Lack of specifi cs Employers need to understand what


you’ve done and accomplished. For exam- ple:


A. Worked with employees in a restau-


rant setting. B. Recruited, hired, trained and super-


vised more than 20 employees in a restau- rant with $2 million in annual sales. Both of these phrases could describe the same person, but the details and specifi cs in example B will more likely grab an employ- er’s attention.


3. Attempting one size fi ts all Whenever you try to develop a one-size-


fi ts-all resume to send to all employers, you almost always end up with something em- ployers will toss in the recycle bin. Employ- ers want you to write a resume specifi cally for them. They expect you to clearly show how and why you fi t the position in a spe- cifi c organization. 4. Highlighting duties instead of ac-


complishments It’s easy to slip into a mode where you simply start listing job duties on your re-


sume. For example: ■ Attended group meetings and record-


ed minutes ■ Worked with children in a day-care


setting. ■ Updated departmental fi les.


Employers, however, don’t care so much about what you’ve done as what you’ve accomplished in your various activities. They’re looking for statements more like


these: ■ Used laptop computer to record week- ly meeting minutes and compiled them in a Microsoft Word-based fi le for future orga-


nizational reference. ■ Developed three daily activities for


preschool-age children and prepared them for a 10-minute holiday program perfor-


mance. ■ Reorganized 10 years worth of un-


wieldy fi les, making them easily accessible to department members. 5. Going on too long or cutting things


too short Despite what you may read or hear, there


are no real rules governing resume length. Why? Because human beings, who have dif- ferent preferences and expectations where resumes are concerned, will be reading it. That doesn’t mean you should start sending out fi ve-page resumes, of course. Generally speaking, you usually need to limit yourself to a maximum of two pages. But don’t feel you have to use two pages if one will do. Conversely, don’t cut the meat out of your resume simply to make it con- form to an arbitrary one-page standard. 6. A bad objective Employers do read your resume objec-


tive, but too often they plow through vague pufferies like, “Seeking a challenging posi- tion that offers professional growth.” Give employers something specifi c and, more importantly, something that focuses on their needs as well as your own. Example: “A challenging entry-level marketing position that allows me to contribute my skills and experience in fund-raising for nonprofi ts.” 7. No action verbs


Avoid using phrases like “responsible


for.” Instead, use action verbs: “Resolved user questions as part of an IT help desk serving 4,000 students and staff.” 8. Leaving off important information You may be tempted, for example, to


eliminate mention of the jobs you’ve taken to earn extra money for school. Typically, however, the soft skills you’ve gained from these experiences (e.g., work ethic, time management) are more important to em- ployers than you might think. 9. Visually too busy If your resume is wall-to-wall text fea-


turing fi ve different fonts, it will most likely give the employer a headache. So show your resume to several other people before send- ing it out. Do they fi nd it visually attractive? If what you have is hard on the eyes, revise. 10. Incorrect contact information I once worked with a student whose


resume seemed incredibly strong, but he wasn’t getting any bites from employers. So one day, I jokingly asked him if the phone number he’d listed on his resume was cor- rect. It wasn’t. Once he changed it, he started getting the calls he’d been expecting. Moral of the story: Double-check even the most minute, taken-for-granted details — sooner rather than later.


Help Wanted Accepting


Applications for: THE INDUSTRIAL DISTRIBUTION EXPERTS DXP Enterprises, Inc. is Hiring in North Dakota


Founded in 1908 and headquartered in Houston, Texas, DXP is a leading products and services distributor. Our open positions are listed below.


Customer Service Representative (Williston) Experience in industrial sales required, knowledge in rotating equipment, bearing & PT preferred.


Mechanic (Williston)


Must be mechanically inclined, service and repair experience with pumps and other rotating equipment preferred.


Site Safety Officer (Minot) Hazardous materials knowledge, CPR/first aid training preferred. DXP will train the right candidate.


To apply please visit our website www.DXPE.com


Parts Department Manager: Our newly remodeled parts department is looking for a Parts Manager with working knowledge of inventory and parts department structuring. The prime applicant will have concrete management skills and the energy to take on new challenges. As the local industry grows so does our vast array of items that we provide. Prime applicant will be organized and goal driven with a passion for success.


Parts Counter Sales Rep: Applicants should possess prime customer service skills that will continue to satisfy the ongoing customer service that IESS takes pride in. All applicants are required to have previous parts or mechanical experience.


Machinist: General Machinist with, Manual and or CNC, along with Programming and welding experience required. Must be a hardworking individual willing to work in a team environment with a successful company.


Competitive Pay & Outstanding Benefit Package


• 100% Paid Medical, Dental & Vision


• Holiday Pay • Vacation Time


• Sick Pay • Short and Long Term Disability


• Life Insurance ALL POSITIONS REQUIRE A “TEAM MEMBER” PERSONALITY.


Please pick up an application at: Industrial Equipment 314 42nd Street West, Williston, ND 58801


Or Apply through your local North Dakota Job Service, or email resume to eturner@iessinc.com


Pre-employment drug screen and back ground check required. Applicant must have valid driver’s licens e.


• 401K Match • PPE Reimbursement


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