Use of business contact information or cute email addresses can
be the kiss of death
Most
job search candidates are aware of the common mistakes, such as
typos and grammatical errors, which can make a big difference in
getting called for an interview. However, most candidates are unaware
of the subtle mistakes they are making, including placing personalized
or company email addresses and company or cell phone numbers, on
their resume.
While
some of these practices may seem harmless, there are valid reasons
behind not putting this information on an employment search document.
"Many
of my clients want to include their work email or phone numbers
on their resume," says Kathy Sweeney, president of The Write Resume,
a Phoenix, Arizona based firm which specializes in resume writing
and employment coaching for clients via the internet. "I advise
against this, because the question a potential hiring manager may
ask is whether a candidate will search for a job on their company's
time."
Further,
Sweeney points out that if a candidate does get a call from a potential
employer on a company phone, the job seeker may be in a meeting
with their boss or client, creating a very precarious situation.
"When
a potential employer wants to contact a candidate, they are usually
ready to either interview them by telephone in a screening phase
or want to set up a formal meeting. They do not want to be put off
by a job seeker who needs to call them back or cannot talk at the
time," says Sweeney. "The hiring manager only has a limited amount
of time to speak to a potential employee and if the individual is
unable to talk, they will go on to the next candidate."
Job
seekers also need to realize that including a cell phone number
on their resume can cause just as many problems. First, the candidate
will be at a disadvantage, because they may not have their resume
in front of them to answer potential questions. In addition, they
may be in a social situation, where once again they may not be able
to speak at length to the employer.
Sweeney
says the candidate should control the timing of the potential screening
interview. The best way to ensure the interview happens on the candidates'
terms is to have a reliable home telephone number listed on their
documents. If an employer calls, they will leave a message and the
candidate can call them back when they are prepared and uninterrupted.
Sweeney
also suggests that job seekers not allow their children to answer
the telephone while searching for a new position. In addition, a
professional telephone message system, with an appropriate outgoing
message, is the key to an employer actually leaving a callback number.
"Many
times individuals will have a cute message left by their child or
a long, loud music selection on their answering machine. This will
guarantee an employer will not leave a message," Sweeney says with
a chuckle.
The
other common mistake candidates make is to have a "personalized"
email address on their resume. Cute email addresses should not be
used. Rather, a professional email address, such as the first and
last name of the job seeker at the internet service provider address
is the best guideline.
Most
internet service providers offer several email addresses per account.
If a candidate does not have their own provider, free accounts are
available from Yahoo and Hotmail. If a candidate has a common name,
like John Smith, they can still utilize their name, but perhaps
use some numbers at the end. Sweeney warns not to use the year of
birth as those numbers, as it could lead to age discrimination.
"I had a client once who wanted to use "GreatBootyBabe" as their
email address on their resume," Sweeney recalls. "I had to gently
advise her that while it was fine to express her individualism to
her friends, it was not professional and would send the wrong message
to the employer."
Using
a company email address is also another kiss of death. Many companies
have a strong email policy and violating those rules can get a candidate
terminated from their current position.
By
following these simple rules, Sweeney says that job seekers will
portray a specific image to potential hiring managers, which in
the long run, may communicate their professionalism.
| 
