Finding a legit telecommute job can be difficult. Telecommute jobs are in high demand and hundreds if not thousands of other people are competing for the same position. So how do you stand apart from everyone else? Your rsum. Your telecommute rsum the first and often the only document a potential employer has to make a hiring decision with. Here are some tips specifically for your telecommute rsum to keep it on the employers desk and out of file number 13. I have consulted with telecommute rsum expert Jennifer Anthony of Rsum ASAP to get a list of the top five telecommute rsum mistakes. Here they are! 1. Wild designs or frilly fonts. If you want to be taken seriously for consideration, avoid using cursive fonts or cutesy clip art. Leave this to personal use; it does not belong on business correspondence. Also, check your e-mail signatures. You dont want to send your rsum out and then sign your name Mommy to Sean and Sissy with little angel graphics around their names. 2. Rsum templates. I know for a fact that recruiters hate templates and would rather rip their hair out than read templates, Jennifer Anthony Recruiters and hiring managers spend their day (often overtime) sorting through hundreds of rsums. Templates are hard to read, and the design elements often dont show up correctly on a monitor other than that your own. Hiring managers need to be able to scan your document quickly to see if you are qualified before moving on. If they cant find out in 6-8 seconds, your rsum is trash. It is better to start with a blank document and look at other rsum examples for inspiration. 3. The selfish objective statement. If you are using the same old objective statement as everyone else, your rsum may be thrown in the trash because you did not put forth the effort to create a personalized rsum. Here is an example objective you should avoid: A telecommute position allowing me to utilize my knowledge and expertise working from home. Why? This statement opens up many questions. What kind of telecommute position? What is your knowledge and expertise? Also take note that using the words me and my sound very selfish. Instead of telling them what you want, you should be showing them what you have to offer them. Here is an example of what you can use as your headline: Talented and experienced virtual assistant, skilled in all aspects of office management within nonprofit environments. (More headline examples can be found at RsumASAP). This is targeted and to the point. The reader knows this person is an experienced virtual assistant who is especially skilled in a nonprofit role. No wasted time. 4. Irrelevant Experience. Dont list irrelevant work experience just to fill in space. If you are applying for a transcription position, your customer service experience at the local fast food restaurant does not apply. What matters is how much transcribing experience you have, how fast you type, how good your spelling and grammar skills are, and how accurate your work is. Any work experience that deals with these skills can be listed. 5. Personal Information. Leave off information like how many children you have, how long you have been married, or that you happen to love scuba diving Lets look at children and spouses for instance. Some people may see this as stability, but many others look at it as a liability. They may have questions about how you will work out for them with the responsibilities. How often will this person miss work because his/her kids are sick? Is his/her spouse supportive of the telecommuting role? Can he/she work efficiently if the children are home? Employers are not allowed to ask, so why put this on your rsum. Personal information should be left off. If you write that you love scuba diving, you may think this makes you look like a well-rounded person. However, it could give someone the idea that you love scuba diving more than work. It is best to just leave this kind of info off. |
