Recruiter shares: Those job applications that shocked me

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This post was last edited by geiben on 2010-12-17 at 21:25. People often ask me, “How do I write a good resume?” My answer is, “If you go through some resumes, you’ll know how to do it.” ”The so-called “resume screening” refers to the process of reading each job application resume one by one from a designated recruitment email address, and selecting those candidates that meet the requirements. I don’t know how many people have gone through this process, but I firmly believe that everyone who has experienced it will immediately understand and remember vividly what makes a resume good – what kind of resume catches someone’s eye and makes the world seem better all at once – because reviewing resumes is truly a tedious and exhausting task. 　　Every time the company posts a job announcement, my email receives hundreds of application letters, along with various ads and spam, which can fill my inbox to capacity in just two or three days. These email subject lines vary in length, and their contents are formatted differently. Even though the job posting specifies what information should be included in the title, there are always people who want to test your eyesight. There’s no other choice but to concentrate intensely, fixing the gaze on each line and scanning them one by one, while the brain works at full speed to identify which information is necessary. 　　What’s most bizarre and amusing is that hundreds of job application letters have subject lines that read something like “×× applying for the ×× position at ×× company”, with a very serious tone, yet the senders’ names are things like “Obedient Little Baby”, “Lonely **”, “Paw Patrol 2012” and similar. What sweat! Haven’t these people thought that the sender’s name will be read along with the email? 　　The attached photos are also a part where things tend to go wrong quite easily; I often see unexpected content in them. The most extreme case was when a girl in pajamas was seen doing a split on the balcony in the photo; her expression was absolutely fierce. I was completely stunned by it, to the point of losing clarity of thought. Sometimes I see selfies of college girls, taken with their phones as well, showing the peace sign and with their beautiful pouted lips ； Some were even holding glasses. There is another photo that left a deep impression on me: a girl wearing a business suit, with delicate features and neatly styled hair, smiling sweetly at the camera. Everything seems fine, except for the background – behind the door of the university dormitory, it’s possible to see posters of Korean celebrities, dirty towels, and class schedules... Dear students, the photo in your resume is the first impression recruiters have of you; please use a photo of yourself that shows you are well-dressed, upbeat, and have a clear face. If you really don’t have any suitable ones, then just don’t put any photos at all. Make sure not to include any strange photos; otherwise, all the text in your resume will be meaningless. 　　When it comes to the text content, there are even more surprising aspects within it. I once saw a resume in which the “Hobbies” section read: “Reading, writing, sports, drinking a little alcohol without it affecting work.” ”We are not looking for salespeople, and we didn’t mention the need for socializing in the job advertisement – it’s unnecessary for candidates to bring up the topic of drinking on their own. 　　Some people like to write down their place of origin, blood type, zodiac sign, and some even write about how wildly they admire a certain celebrity. A job application resume is not an alumni directory; these items serve no purpose other than possibly costing you points. 　　Some people, in order to show their excellence, write in their list of awards that they \"won first place in the shuttlecock kicking competition at the freshman sports meet\"” ； To demonstrate knowledge, include in the personal introduction statements such as “I am diligent in writing and have a wide range of reading interests (attached is a list of some books read from 2009 to the present; source: Library of Renmin University of China)” and “I am interested in psychology and have read books such as ‘The Advantages of Being Introverted’, ‘Meeting the Unknown Self’, and ‘The Secret’”” ； Some people, in order to prove that they have a wide range of interests, add the following: “I was present at the premiere of the Suisse Festival in **the Grand Theatre in September 2009, where I had the opportunity to hear the steady conducting style of the renowned conductor Abbado. I am well-versed in classic works from both the East and West, Western classical music, strange tales (such as those related to toxicology and mythology), astronomy and geography, as well as scientific knowledge; in addition, I also have knowledge of various high-tech weapons and equipment.” Such descriptions show that you really have nothing to write about in the skill areas required for this position, which is why you include details about books you’ve read and concerts you’ve attended. Or perhaps you simply don’t know what skill set is required for this position. 　　At the end of a job application resume, some people like to include a brief self-description of a few dozen words. The sentence I’ve seen the most, and which is the least convincing, is: “Give me a chance, and I’ll return the favor with a surprise for you.” ”If past abilities are so unconvincing, do you still expect recruiters to look forward to future surprises? Someone else wrote: “I’m not the best, but I’m the most confident. I believe that as long as you have hope, it will come true, and as long as you work hard, you will succeed.” ”Such clichéd phrases won’t earn you any points; on the contrary, they give the impression that you’re someone who follows the crowd without any independent thinking. 　　There are simply too many mistakes in job seekers’ resumes; only after reviewing hundreds of them can you understand what it means to say \"life is more interesting than novels.\" For job seekers, it is a waste of opportunity; for recruiters, it is a mental strain. In fact, many mistakes can be avoided; all it takes is for applicants to consider things from the recruiter’s perspective when writing their resumes, and they will quickly understand what should be included, what shouldn’t, what adds value, and what is unnecessary. Practice more empathy by considering things from the other person’s perspective, write honest words without any lies or empty phrases, and ensure the content is well-organized with clear structure. A resume like this will surely stand out.