It used to be that poorly written resumes and LinkedIn profiles warranted an eye-roll from recruiters and hiring managers. What I see in today’s job market has gone well beyond that.
As a career coach, I review hundreds, if not thousands, of resumes and LinkedIn profiles a year. Some are well done, some are not, and many are in between. The worst, though, are the ones that make me, and probably everyone else….CRINGE.
How does a person graduate from eye-roll to all-out cringe? Let me give you examples I’ve witnessed first-hand.
LINKEDIN PICTURES
EYE-ROLL – Pictures that were obviously taken at a wedding or other gathering with the person you’re standing next to cut out.
CRINGE! - LinkedIn pictures created using AI making you look like a robotic version of yourself (and, yes, we can tell).
RESUMES
EYE-ROLL - Using the same, overused words and phrases that everyone else in every field says about themselves—and by the way, these are things that pretty much everyone with any job experience is expected to have, so having them doesn’t make you special—team player, self-motivated, self-starter, organized, detail-oriented, people-person, fast learner, driven, and on and on.
BIG CRINGE! - Overplaying your hand with so many superlatives, the reader wonders why, if you’re as great as you say, you don’t have employers lining up to hire you and pay you a bazillion dollars, but instead, you’re looking for a job. From ONE LinkedIn profile—unsurpassed, supreme, unmatched, unparalleled, best in class, preeminent expert (PS, this person was not a CEO).
RESUMES
EYE-ROLL - Using job titles that are just words like Social Media, Process Improvement, Sales & Marketing, or even worse, Planning or Training. These are not job titles. Social Media Specialist is a job title. Social Media Manager is a job title. Which are you?
TOTAL CRINGE! - Putting your actual job title, then enhancing it—a lot! Operations Manager (VP of Operations equivalent), Operations Manager (COO-Chief Operations Officer equivalent). Does your employer know you’ve given yourself a promotion?
LINKEDIN BANNERS
EYE-ROLL - Using generic background banners or none at all.
CRINGE, CRINGE, CRINGE! - Creating a background banner with your name (already in your profile), email, and phone number (or putting this info in your About section). Your profile which already lists place of employment and university, might as well say, “Welcome hackers to all of my personal information just waiting for you to steal my identity.”
Eye-roll, cringe, laugh, or cry, all of these things need to be fixed. They reflect poorly on your professional brand. Just like your personal appearance, your resume and LinkedIn profile speak loudly about who you are. Think about what you want them to say.