Why Your Resume Got Tossed

Why Your Resume Got Tossed Help employers find you! Check out all the jobs and post your resume.

By Biospace.com

This is a wonderful time for people to either enter the industry or look for an alternative role within it. As in any sector, there are issues which apply to biotechnology, clinical, medical device, and even academic work that are different from other types of careers. Applicants should tailor their applications not only to the position they’re after, but with the general attitude of the biopharma industry in mind. Paying attention to position requirements is especially important.

Understanding why your resume got tossed will help you write a resume that will get you your next job.

No Relevant Qualifications

According to the Massachusetts Labor and Workforce Development, the first person who sees a resume will scan it for nine to 30 seconds. Resumes that do not contain required aspects of the advertised job immediately get filtered out and get tossed in the trash. Obviously that time is shorter for certain jobs with the most competition, so it’s imperative for candidates to identify what is needed for an open position and find ways to make them stand out on their resumes.

Difficult to Read

Well-designed resumes aren’t going to affect those decisions, but poorly-designed ones could have a serious impact even if you have the skills. Many employers will skip past resumes that look unprofessional. Others will only devote a certain amount of time to finding the information they need, so it is doubly important that information is formatted in a clear and concise way.

Upsetting HR

Hayes is a typical HR gatekeeper. She’s the contact that applicants have to impress in order to get a job interview. Applicants should focus on making the HR director’s job quick and as easy as possible. This means avoiding the urge to bypass HR when reaching out to private contacts already working within a company. It’s frustrating for their staff, often conflicts with their interview scheduling and it leaves a bad impression. Instead, candidates should mention in their cover letters when they’ve spoken with someone and make a request for an interview at a previously-agreed upon time.

Avoiding Employment Gaps

Additionally, there are other things that can turn off potential employers and their HR departments. Gaps in employment are a common problem in today’s recovering economy, and one that most applicants avoid explaining. These gaps will be obvious to the person hiring and firing, so it’s best if the candidate addresses any lapses in employment head on. This can easily be done in the cover letter, with a short paragraph that avoids getting too personal.

Biopharma is offering career opportunities for all levels. Executives have an easier time moving from another sector, largely because the skills needed by upper management are often quite similar. Those already involved in biopharma also have an increased chance of moving on to a different role, given they have the experienced required. Regardless of career level, all candidates can give themselves an immediate advantage by crafting clear, concise resumes, delivering them to the right people and addressing obvious problems from the get-go.

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