Resumes are generally your first line of contact with potential job applicants. And recruiters blaze through scores of them on a regular basis. Finding the right hire – in a candidate’s market or otherwise – is already a process riddled with challenges. And one amongst these challenging tasks includes looking out for grammar mistakes in candidates’ resumes.
No, really. Well, that is at least one major red flag recruiters have to look out for before proceeding to the interview stage. Red flags warning signs with meaning behind them. They can be mistakes and indicators that can convey a great deal of information about the person that is applying for a position. They are the first warning signs that employers need to heed when vetting the credentials of an applicant.
There are certain mistakes you cannot ignore. For example, one should hire a person who blatantly lies on their resume. Other than the obvious errors that recruiters can’t ignore, it would also be advisable to consider an individual’s application in the context of their entire career and background experience.
Also, keep in mind that these red signs could reflect the current employment market, faulty advise from a career or placement specialist, or job seekers’ eagerness to get your attention with their application materials. They may not be representative of the applicant’s whole professional history. While none of these resume red flags, with the exception of the careless resume and the lies, are fatal to an application, they all deserve a thorough evaluation by the recruiter as they consider candidates for the vacant position.
Here are some of the major red flags recruiters need to look out for in resumes.
1. Employment gaps
Large time gaps in a candidate’s work history is one of the biggest red flags that recruiters and hiring managers will immediately notice. Time gaps between employment can occur either out of an individual’s choice or in circumstances that are beyond their control. In fact, one prolonged gap in employment isn’t unusual these days, especially with a growing number of people opting for career sabbaticals to pursue their needs.
If a qualified candidate can provide a reasonable explanation for the gap in employment, then there’s no need for recruiters to be alarmed. But if there are multiple gaps that seem out of place, that is a resume red flag.
Recruiters should also take careful note of the dates on the resumes. Some candidates would list their employment duration in years and conceal the actual date and month of the employment period. Steer clear of functional resumes that avoid providing dates at all.
2. Job hopping
Resumes that mention several brief stints may also be viewed as a red flag. People also job-hop in search of a new career for all sorts of reasons – increased pay, improved benefits, better work-life balance, etc. The candidate’s reasons behind job-hopping may be legitimate, but recruiters are more concerned with the investment that will be put into hiring them. Two years with an organization typically isn’t enough time to become truly proficient in a role, let alone make meaningful contributions to the company’s larger success. Therefore, it is in an organization’s best financial interests to find candidates who are invested in sticking around for more than a couple of years.
3. Resumes speckled with spelling, grammar, and formatting challenges
A resume conveys a message, and well-constructed ones display an individual’s ability to convey that message effectively. An individual’s lack of attention to details such as appropriate grammar, spelling, and punctuation can send red flags to the recruiter.
A resume is the first opportunity that a candidate gets for creating a positive impression. A careless and sloppy resume will simply be passed on, and mistakes at this crucial point will make another person look like a better fit.
4. Inability to provide evidence of accomplishments
Candidates that are fixated on listing their job duties rather than identifying work experience achievements raise red flags to recruiters. If a candidate can’t make their accomplishments clear in a resume, it’s unlikely they will be able to provide meaningful on-the-spot answers during the interview phase. Recruiters look for resumes that show clear, results-oriented accomplishments for each role.
5. Unusual employment history
Recruiters need to be on the lookout for candidate experience that qualifies the individual for a specific role. If connecting the dots between an individual’s work experience and how it relates to the role that they are applying for seems challenging, the individual may be viewed as uncommitted towards the role.
However, it is also fair to assume the people with several short-term job stints may have just had legitimate bad luck in employment. They may be in search for their best career or choice of employment, which is evidenced by these multiple shifts. Therefore, recruiters need to comfortably question candidates about details in their resume that raises red flags.
Conclusion
These are five resume red flags that recruiters and hiring managers should be cognizant of when they review resumes and job applications. Resumes are the first line of contact between recruiter and job applicant, and they are thus indicative of the habits and characteristics of the person applying for the job.
Heed these resume red flags. What are the traits that you may or may not want in an employee? These will help pinpoint the strengths and weaknesses that will determine the success of the individual as well as the organization.
