The sample resumeshown is recommended by a very large Toronto Youth Job Placement web site. It is a terrible Resume. Certainly incompetent and I consider it bordering on the criminal.

Here it the exact copy complete with my comments in red.

Combination misspelt twice. But I should not be to critical as I too make spelling mistakes.

• Relevant Skills and Abilities. This person is seeking an entry level position in the landscaping field. The employer is not seeking to hire a brain surgeon. With limited skills when applying for manual work stress your age, health, and strength.
   
•  Never send a generic Resume. Find out who the employer is and “personalize” it to interest the employer. Note that you live nearby and working long irregular hours is no problem for positions like this.
      
• It does not take any experience in job hunting to appreciate how this resumecan only “turn off” an employer.

Here is another recommended resume taken from a software package claiming to be the most popular resume program.
I have identified only the gross errors.

Mary Looking
604 Harmony Road,
Mytown, CA 94588

(925) 555-1234

Objective

Seeking Teller position with growth-oriented company offering opportunity for advancement and professional development, requiring extensive experience in banking and financial services and management experience. This tells me nothing.

Accomplishments

• · A high-energy, enthusiastic and dependable individual who excels in challenging and competitive environments. This tells me nothing.
• · Met and exceeded quotas and accomplished delegated objectives. .This tells me nothing.
• · Successful track record of with high responsibility positions.This tells me nothing.
• · Fast learner; quickly incorporate and implement new proceduresThis tells me nothing.
• · A solid work ethic in delivering high-quality service to customers. A solid work ethic in delivering high-quality service to customers.This tells me nothing.

Computer: Proficient in Windows Software, WordPerfect, Excel, Microsoft Word, Dos, Data Entry, and Internet
Excellent Customer service skills

Summary of Qualifications

• · Effective planning and organizational skills.This tells me nothing.
• · Skilled in all aspects of cash handling, issuing money orders, cashing checks, cross-selling banking products and services, and related duties.This tells me nothing. It simply lists what she was assigned to do, not how will she did it.
• · Well-developed communication skills demonstrated through extensive customer service, answering multi-line phones, preparing reports and paperwork, and positive interaction with individuals at all levels.This tells me nothing.
• · Expertise in business administration, record keeping, planning, policies, procedures, researching, scheduling, and related responsibilities to ensure productive operations.
  Another useless list.
• · Work well independently and as part of a team.This tells me nothing. The poorly constructed sentence tells me a lot.

The Royal Omni Hotel, New Orleans, LA 2003 - Present
Cashier

Cash handling, customer service, balance drawer, petty cash, and place orders for inventory. Manager in training: such duties involve opening and closing the registers, approving overrides, assisting in the training of new cashiers, monitoring cash limits, making supervisory decisions, scheduling lunch breaks, and ensuring quality customer service at all times.
This tells me nothing, just another list.

A.S.I Federal Credit Union, Gretna, LA 2002 - 2003
Teller

Responsible for cash/checking deposits, processing loan payments, opening accounts, getting direct deposits accounts activate atm/debit cards This tells me nothing, just another list.

Hibernia National Bank, New Orleans, LA 2000 - 2002
Teller

Teller duties consist of maintaining proper cash limits, cashing checks, accepting deposits, issuing cashier's checks, money orders, and traveler's checks, cash advances, wire transfers, transfer of funds, and paying / receiving large amounts of currency / coin.This tells me nothing, just another list.

Education

Community Independent Linving Systems (Vocational Tech), New Orleans 1998
Spelling error, poorly constructed sentences tells me a lot.

Certificate, Office Occupation

************************************ *********

Did this resume tell you much about the person? Mainly it told us what she was hired to do. Perhaps she was fired because of her poor performance. Remember, this was taken directly from a resume software program.

Present your accomplishments by briefly covering:

• What the problem or opportunity was.
• What you did about it.
• Quantify the results in numbers. (In $,or %, or quantity)
  
  Number three may be difficult but think about it. Thinking is always the answer. Think. ‘Some poetic license’ is allowed and expected but never lie. Lying rots the sole.