The 3 most common résumé mistakes

Mistake #2: You bored them
Busy professionals -- including recruiters and hiring managers -- are swamped with information. Consider the hundreds of résumés, e-mails and phone calls they have to field within any given day, not to mention the number of candidates they meet and interview within any given week, and you see how critical it is to break through the clutter and capture their attention in a professional way. Bore them, and, chances are, you'll lose them.

The solution? Offer meaningful information that matters to readers. If you want your résumé and cover letter to stand out above the noise and competition, your written materials must be concise, clear, and deliver meaningful messages that grab the reader. Leave out the clichés like, “I'm a team player,” “I think outside the box,” or “I'm a hard worker.” Even if these things are true about you, everybody writes this stuff, and these kinds of descriptors are just too broad and sweeping to really deliver any meaning, anyway. Plus, do you really believe it when someone else tells you that they are a “hard worker”? If you're like most people, you'll believe it when you see it. Recruiters are the same way. If you really are a hard worker and you want to say so, then you also need to prove it. Don't write it unless you're also prepared to offer a clear, concise example about a time when you really put the pedal to the metal. In fact, whenever you write anything about yourself, always be ready to offer up a story, an example, or some other evidence that truly demonstrates you are who you say you are.

Mistake #3: You didn't tailor for them
When it comes to your résumé and cover letter (though I prefer “marketing materials”), one size does not fit all. Writing a powerful résumé and a cover letter that packs a punch aren't exactly a walk in the park. This stuff takes time and effort, which is why many of us don't relish the thought of going through the process more than once. The result? We send the exact same résumé and cover letter (with a change of name or address here or there) to each and every job we apply for. But this isn't smart: When you don't take the time to tailor your résumé and cover letter for distinct positions, you dilute the strength of your résumé and will have a tougher time competing against others who will have a stronger focus and message than yours.

The solution? Position your resume and cover letter, each and every time you send them out. I'm not suggesting you reinvent the wheel or create an entirely new set of materials for every job that's out there. Instead, look carefully at the job description before you click send and make sure that your information truly reflects the needs of the employer and how you can best contribute to those needs. Yes, this is extra effort, but it's not always easy to get a foot in a door and a shot at your dream job. Make the most of every opportunity and take the extra time to really customize your marketing materials -- it may make the difference between an interview for you or someone else.

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Excerpted from Work 101 by Elizabeth Freedman. Copyright 2007 by Elizabeth Freedman. Excerpted by permission of Delta, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.