One or Two Resume Mistakes Enough for Most Managers to Pass on a Job Candidate
Still, managers more lenient than they were five years ago
Even in an era of typo-ridden texts and tweets, making a goof on a resume can still prove costly, according to a recent survey by Accountemps. Sixty-three percent of senior managers said just one or two resume mistakes would eliminate an applicant from consideration for a job. But, in what may be a sign of the times, the research showed employers today are more tolerant of errors than they were five years ago: Only 17% said a single snafu would land a resume in the “no” pile now versus 40% in 2009 and 47% in 2006.
The survey includes responses from more than 300 senior managers in the United States at companies with 20 or more employees.
Senior managers were asked, “How many typos in a resume does it take for you to decide not to consider a job candidate for a position with your company?” Their responses:
2014 2009 2006
One 17% 40% 47%
Two 46% 36% 37%
Three 27% 14% 7%
Four + 9% 7% 6%
The following real-life resume blunders have been collected by Robert Half, parent company of Accountemps:
- “My last employer fried me for no reason.”
- “I am graduating this Maybe.”
- “I am looking for my big brake.”
- “Referees available upon request.”
- “My talent will be very a parent when you see me work.”
- “Objective: To secure a challenging position and accell in the accounting industry.”
- “My three biggest hobbies are cars, racquetball, golf, and reading.”
- “Work experience: academic tudor.”
- “Earned a diploma from a very repudiated college.”
- “Looking for a bass salary of $40,000.”
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