Li, a recent master's graduate, was told that a well-crafted resume was key to landing a job in China. She carefully compiled her academic and internship experiences, used AI tools to refine her descriptions, and choose an appealing template to create a full set of application materials, including a cover page, a cover letter, a three-page resume, and a back cover.

She submitted the materials in the form of a compressed file online and attended numerous offline job fairs with color-printed, bound copies. However, employers showed little interest in her resume, and she rarely received interview invitations, even for positions matching her qualifications. This left Li confused — isn't a more detailed resume supposed to be better?

While Li's attention to detail is admirable, she fell into the common trap of overcomplicating her resume.

A good resume should be concise and use clear, authentic language to highlight one's strengths and suitability for the position.

Here's a reflection on the possible problems in Li's resume:

1. Overly flashy packaging

The traditional four-part resume might look attractive, but it is often impractical. When screening large volumes of resumes, HR personnel rarely spend time reading cover letters or looking at the cover page. Wordy content can detract from core points.

A resume should be concise both in format and content. A single A4-size page is sufficient for fresh graduates with a clean, simple layout. A concise resume should favor bullet points over long paragraphs, with key information highlighted for quick scanning. Once finalized, the resume should be saved and submitted as a PDF.

2. Excessive irrelevant information

To make her resume more substantial, Li included every course and research topic from her undergraduate and postgraduate studies, as well as all her campus and social activities. The result was a dense, three-page document that overwhelmed recruiters, making it difficult for them to quickly identify her suitability for the position. While some of her experiences were highly relevant, they were buried under a heap of unnecessary details.

When listing university courses, only include those directly related to the target position. Similarly, work experience should highlight job duties and skills that align closely with the position, eliminating superfluous information to maintain focus.

3. Descriptions lacking credibility

Enhanced by AI, Li's internship descriptions appeared exceptionally polished and professional. However, the resume may not withstand scrutiny. For example, her resume claimed she had mastered all core technical skills and gained hands-on experience during a one-month internship, an assertion that may leave HR managers doubtful. When questioned about specific tools mentioned in her resume, Li couldn’t provide clear answers. Even if such a resume passes initial screening, it can easily fall apart during an interview.

A resume must be grounded in fact, with every claim verifiable and every tool listed being one that the candidate can genuinely use. Optimizing content based on factual experiences is the best strategy to keep authenticity.

Pro tip: Review your resume carefully to avoid the same pitfalls.

Source: Official WeChat account of Shanghai Baoshan at "sh-baoshan"