Best Resume Bombs That Can Humiliate an Applicant

Interviewer checking for resume bombs

Hiring managers pay close attention to job applications that pass through their folders or job databases. Contemporary applications have adopted various strategies, such as incorporating a personal portfolio and providing links to social networking sites like Facebook and LinkedIn.

For hiring managers, it is acceptable for an applicant to include their Facebook profile page, which is not typically found on a resume. Indeed, the job application process continues to evolve, possibly due to the applicants themselves.

However, there are still elements that hiring managers find objectionable and unprofessional. Therefore, when a candidate submits a resume that includes a blurry photo of themselves, the application is considered ineffective. A resume (CV) is not a canvas where one can freely reveal their intimate secrets.

Resume Pitfalls to Avoid

Here are some common elements that you should omit from your resumes to avoid being labeled as “unprofessional”:

  • Tedious accounts of past work experience – Career experts suggest that it is acceptable to include a concise narrative of your professional history on your CV. However, if you settle for a dull narrative that starts from the very beginning, your application will not make a lasting impression.
  • Playful photographs – As mentioned, hiring managers are sensitive to a job seeker’s image. Casual photos depicting stylish attire and poses do not make the cut. Career professionals unanimously agree that your photo reflects whether you are serious about your job pursuit or not.
  • Multiple social media links – Hiring managers may consider LinkedIn and Facebook, but they do not require you to include these details in your resume. Some candidates attempt to complicate the job search process by including numerous social networking sites.
  • Overuse of esoteric terminology – Careless applicants employ “unusual” vocabulary in their resumes. This is evident in how some may go as far as using jargon that hiring managers do not have time to decipher. Those who include extravagant words in their document often have a lower chance of securing a job.

Linda Roberts is a member of a research team that provides various reference materials to corporate recruitment departments.

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