Legal Blog

Any job seeker knows that it’s hard — and sometimes darn near impossible — to get a hiring manager’s attention. So some candidates infuse their resumes and cover letters with humor, unexpected analogies, and cute and clever language in an effort to stand out. But will a clever resume really give you an advantage? Probably not. If fact, it could harm your chances of being called for a job interview.

Rest assured that most employers will conduct a reference check if they are seriously considering bringing you on board. But that stage of the hiring process comes well after you submit your resume. For this reason, there’s no need to include “References available upon request” or similar language on the document.

Words make up the vast majority of the content in your resume. But numbers feature prominently too. There’s no way to write a good resume without both. You need numbers to convey your dates of employment, the year you earned a degree or certification, or your requested starting salary range (only if an employer requests that information, though!).

Let’s be clear, lying on a resume is bad. Very bad. You never want to misrepresent your skills or experience when applying for a new position. It’s easier than ever for hiring managers to uncovering the true information. And once they do, your chances of landing the job will disappear.

For the majority of candidates, the job interview is the most difficult portion of the hiring process. You’re under the gun to make a strong impression. And research we’ve conducted shows that you don’t have a lot of time to do so. Sixty percent hiring managers form an opinion of job seekers in 10 minutes or less. Almost one in five (18 percent) do it in half that time. With that in mind, here are six interview tips for the next time you’re across the desk from a potential employer — and six people who are doing it wrong, according to managers we’ve surveyed.