Most People Don't Know These 2 Things Are Resume Red Flags. A Career Expert Reveals How to Work Around Them. Many workers will search for a new role in 2023 — but only those who avoid these job-search pitfalls will be successful.
By Amanda Breen Edited by Jessica Thomas
New year, new career?
The answer is "yes" for an overwhelming majority of people surveyed by global employment leader Monster, which found that 96% of workers are currently looking for or plan to look for a new job in 2023.
If you're one of them, you'll want to put your best foot forward to land that dream job. But your resume could be raising red flags for recruiters — and you might not even realize it.
According to the Monster 2023 Work Watch Report, although applicants and recruiters are on the same page about some warning signs, such as resume gaps and job hopping, two common faux pas are a little less obvious.
Related: 18 Tips to Help Your Resume Stand Out From the Rest (Infographic)
First, you might be tempted to reach for that position you're not 100% qualified for, and many career experts actually encourage it.
One interview coach and former human resources manager told CNN Business that the skills on a job posting are more like a "wish list" — and that he'd consider candidates who meet at least 70% of the criteria.
Still, Monster's report found that many applicants underestimate how much having job-appropriate skills matters to recruiters. Roughly one in five (22%) of workers believe that lacking qualifications is a red flag if they're trainable, compared to 69% of recruiters.
But all hope isn't lost if you're not the paper-perfect candidate. Monster career expert Vicki Salemi tells Entrepreneur that you should highlight transferable skill sets and share anecdotes to show how they're relevant, featuring them in your cover letter and your resume's summary and text.
"There are two categories of skills: hard skills (think technical) and soft skills (like leadership and empathy)," Salemi says. "The former is easier to train, so to best address a recruiter's concerns to show that you're trainable, focus on the hard skills that you acquired. If you pursued an online certification or taught yourself a specific skill, definitely be proactive and mention it to show that you're easily trainable."
Another concern to be aware of? Not living where the job is based.
In the era of remote and hybrid work, it can be easy to assume that location doesn't matter as much as it once did, especially when 61% of people working from home do so because they prefer it, even though their office is open, per the Pew Research Center.
Unfortunately, many employers — and recruiters — don't necessarily feel the same way. Monster's report revealed that only about a quarter (24%) of workers think not living where a company is based is a red flag, while the majority of recruiters (69%) believe that it is.
But this red flag doesn't have to be a dealbreaker either. According to Salemi, a "show, don't tell" approach is key here.
"Instead of saying something like, 'I'm responsive,' show the interviewers you're always responsive, reliable and available by responding to their emails very quickly," Salemi explains. "Responding across time zones is a non-issue when you're responsive regardless of the time of day it is in your neck of the woods."
Salemi also suggests taking remote interviews seriously, ensuring your surroundings are as professional as they would be if you were interviewing in person; building rapport with your interviewer; and mentioning you can be available for important in-person meetings (if you really mean it).
Related: Remote Work Is Here to Stay: Are You Ready for the New Way of Life?
And one final takeaway? Always dress to impress: 65% of workers don't think dressing less professionally for an interview is a red flag, but by now it probably comes as no surprise that most recruiters (67%) do.
