4 Tips for Job Seekers Whose Resumes Contain Glaring Red Flags

4 Tips for Job Seekers Whose Resumes Contain Glaring Red Flags 4 Tips for Job Seekers Whose Resumes Contain Glaring Red Flags The act of preparing a resume can be fairly straightforward, assuming you can tick all the right boxes e.g., a good education, some blue-ribbon achievements to brag about, and absolutely no red flags.But for you otherwise fine candidates out there whose resumes unfortunately contain a few warning signs that can handicap your application, preparing a winning resume can be a bit more difficult.Heres are four of the most common resume red flags, along with some tips to help you address them and make your resumesparkle nonetheless1.UnemploymentResearch from the Pew Charitable Trust shows that the long-term unemployed (those who have been unemployed for six months or longer) have to send 3.5 times as many resumes as the short-term unemployed to get an interview. Like it or not, employers view unemployment as a big red flag.What can you do? Rather then just leave a part of your work historyblank, turn your period of unemployment into something positive by listing your achievements and the new skills learned during this period. This will show employers that you have the initiative to stay productive, even when times are tough.2. Job HoppingAttitudes toward job hopping are changing among millennnials, but people older than 35 still see it as a largely negative thing.Because job hopping is still viewed with suspicion by many hiring managers, its important to display your short tenures inthe most positive light possible. Here are a few ways to do that- List all your achievements, including things you did at your briefest roles.- Demonstrate that you fulfilled the requirements of each contract/short-tenure position to show you are reliable.- Outline any key skills that you learned in each post to show how muchyou learned from job hopping.3. An Incomplete EducationEven though Steve Jobs, Oprah, Bill Gates,and many other wildly successful people l eft schoolbefore earning their degrees, being a college dropout is still a majorred flag to most employers.Therefore, its vital that you frame your decision to leave school in a flattering light.Did you leave to start a business, write a book, or join some major venture or initiative? Then include this information on your resume Demonstrate what you achieved in place of completing your degree. Anything less than this will look pretty questionableon your resume.4. Youve Been FiredThis is perhaps theall-time worst resume red flag, andit requires some serious damage control.Itgenerally does not make sense to state that you have been fired in your resume or cover letter, but whatever you do, dont mislead the employer in any way.Simply include the start and end dates of your employment dont fudgethe numbers.If your employer asks you at interview, youll need to be completely truthful aboutwhy you left. In fact, even if they dont ask, its probably best to make it known. Otherwise, the emp loyer may find out from a background check, and that may make them feel like you mislead them.Of course, youll need to go on aPR offensive when explaining why you were fired. Here are a few tips to keep in mind while spinning your firing in a positive light- Dont badmouth past employers or managers.- Explain the reason for dismissal.- Where appropriate, be accepting of what happened to you.- Be prepared to answer any questions around it until the interviewer is satisfied.- Outline the lessons you have learned.- Explain thesteps you have taken to make sure the situation doesnt happen toyou again.Finally, its important to remember that no one is perfect. Most employers know this, and many of them are more skeptical of resumes that look too perfect than resumes with a few warts. Having hiccups and red flags on your resume is a factof life. The thing that will set you apart from other candidates is how positively you present those red flags and how constructively you deal with the adver sity that created them in the first place.Master the art of closing deals and making placements. Take our Recruiter Certification Program today. Were SHRM certified. Learn at your own pace during this 12-week program. Access over 20 courses. Great for those who want to break into recruiting, or recruiters who want to further their career.