If it was based only on resumes then probably most of your candidates are perfect for the job and your predicament would be choosing the best. but back to reality, we all know the real world doesn't work that way, anyone can write an impressive resume but is it all factual ? Lets look at ways to help you read between the lines as well as some red flags to be aware of when evaluating resumes for your potential candidate.

Normally there are two types of resumes usually submitted:

Chronological : 
where all the work-related information appears in a timeline sequence
 
Functional:
where the information appears in various categories (skills, achievements, qualifications, and so on).

 

Functional resumes are more common and acceptable nowadays although some people believe that candidates who try to hide gaps in their work history usually use functional resumes, some applicants use a combination of both functional and chronological resumes , they show the most important qualifications they have along with a chronological work history as well. 

One of the main things to look for is a steady and stable progression into greater responsibility and more important positions although some excellent candidates decide to change career and make the leap to a different path for very good reasons so make sure to discuss any major career changes and be aware of the following points:

 

Pattern jobs: an indicator of a problem is if a candidate's job history is confined within the same pattern of positions indicating lack of increasing responsibility, promotion or ambition. there are of course some exceptions to this for highly technical and specialized positions.

 

Vague wording: Beware of vague words like " Partnered with" , "Participated in", " familiar with " if what the candidate is referring to by using these words is a major job skill requirement, make sure you probe that point more, these words suggest that the candidate may or may not have the actual experience he/she is claiming.

 

Sloppy and unprofessional resume: The resume gives you a first impression of the candidate, so a sloppy and unprofessionally written resume tells you right away that this person lacks professionalism and business experience.

 

Unexplained gaps in employment history: If you have a well designed application form it can help uncover any hidden gaps , for example if a candidate says he left one job and started another in the same year, make sure to specify months, he could have left the first job in January and joined the other job in December of the same year.

 

Typos and spelling mistakes: Generally a lot of typos on the resume signifies carelessness which is another red flag to be aware of. Not proofreading a resume or not having someone else do it may be a sign that the candidate isn’t conscientious.

 

Too many hobbies: if you see too many hobbies or out of work activities standing out , this can be an indicator of an applicant who is not really going to be the first to sign up for extra hours or put extra effort voluntarily, he'd rather be out there back with his/her beloved hobby.

Also be aware that series of several jobs in a short timeframe is a clear signal of a problematic or unreliable employee or a chronic job surfer. There is usually a good reason why people leave jobs so make sure you find out why.

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