Many job aspirants copy and paste job descriptions from the company’s site into their resumes, expecting to get an interview call. This is a common mistake which most people make when applying for a job. Copying and pasting job descriptions can reduce your chance of getting a job in your dream company.
Employers always hire employees who have an easy-to-read and unique resume. Your resume describes your educational qualifications, skills and strengths. A great job resume attracts employers and recruiters and increases the chance of being hired by the company.
On the other hand, copying job descriptions in the resume might damage your job openings. Employers will cancel your resume and hire a deserving candidate if they find you have copied the job description from somewhere.
Copying generic job descriptions might be tempting, but it can have serious consequences. So, try to write the job description without taking anyone’s help. You might find several job descriptions on job-seeking sites like LinkedIn. However, don’t copy and paste it into your resume if you desperately need a job.
Let’s learn why copying and pasting job descriptions can be a disaster:
Why Do People Copy and Paste Job Descriptions from the Company Site?
Adding a job description to a resume is essential as it tells the hiring manager about your achievements, expertise and what you’ve learned. Recruiters check all these details and decide whether you will fit the position well.
A well-written resume and job description help employers know that your skills and accomplishments are perfect for the role. Not all employees have the same achievements, strengths or skills. So, copying and pasting job descriptions might be a shortcut, but it won’t impress the recruiters.
Moreover, the duties listed in the job description vary depending on the company type or size. For instance, an assistant manager won’t have the same duties in two different firms. So, copying and pasting the job descriptions in your resume doesn’t make sense. It won’t help you stand out from the other job aspirants.
Here is the list of factors hiring managers check on a resume job description:
- The responsibilities you handled in the past job role
- Reasons to hire you
- Which challenges did you encounter in the previous company, and how did you overcome it
You must also include the job role you have played in the previous companies instead of simply adding the duties or tasks you have performed. Add your skills or performance in bullet points to make it look interesting. Here are the details you must add to the job description:
- How you have improved the company’s products or services
- Strategies you have used to increase the previous company’s sales
- How have you contributed to your company’s dream project?
- Appreciation awards or gifts you’ve received from previous companies
- How you have met the company’s targets
- How you have met the previous company’s deadlines
Why Copying and Pasting a Job Description in Your Resume is a Major Mistake?
Many people include the job description they want in their resume. They copy the description most of the time. Applicant Tracking Software systems sometimes fail to identify the copied job descriptions. However, a hiring manager can easily find that you’ve copied the description from somewhere.
Lack of creativity can ultimately decline the probability of getting hired by a company even if you have the required skills. Moreover, some job aspirants use “invisible” text to deceive the ATS system. However, human eyes can easily see the texts you copied in the job description.
You won’t have a good impression on the employers or recruiters if they get to know you have tried to get the job dishonestly. They will not consider you as the right person for the vacant position in their company. So, it is crystal clear that copying and pasting the job description in your resume is a crime.
Best Tips on Writing Applicant Tracking Software-Compatible Job Resumes:
JobScan reported that over 98.8% of Fortune 500 companies use Applicant Tracking software systems. Besides, 35% of small-scale enterprises rely on them when selecting deserving candidates. On the other hand, an average of 66% of large companies take advantage of ATS to choose the best job resume.
Thus, you must make your resume ATS-compatible to get an interview call from the recruiter. Here are the tips you must follow when writing ATS-compatible resumes:
- Don’t stuff excess keywords in the job description
- Use keywords relevant to the job role
- Add keywords in the resume’s context and “Experience” section
- Always insert keywords on your resume’s first page
- Use table format to add your achievements or skills
- Stop using the same keyword twice or even thrice
- Submit the resume in PDF format
- Consider using abbreviations like BA or B.A
- Add the expertise in the programs you have, like typing in Google Docs
- Choose any font style to write the job resume
- Avoid using column or text boxes; ATS can’t read them
What Else Should You Add to Make Your Resume ATS-Compatible?
Remember to add your contact details in the resume’s main body to make it visible to employers. Using charts or graphs in the ATS-compatible resume might be inappropriate. Recruiters don’t thoroughly look at the graphical presentations when receiving job aspirants’ resumes.
Avoid using long sentences in the job description. Ensure sufficient space in every section so employers can easily notice them. Additionally, you must include the company’s name where you have previously worked.
Adding the job titles to your ATS-compatible resume will be a wise decision. Consider adding the dates when you resigned from the previous company. You can also mention the same company name twice if you have worked in different positions there. Don’t add any cover in your resume. Applicant Tracking software can’t read it.
What Should You Add in the Resume Job Description to Get Your Dream Job?
Your resume job description must have the projects you have worked for and relevant professional experiences. This resume section aims to show the recruiters that you have the skills they’re looking for in their company.
So, now the real question is – What should you add to the resume job description? Add descriptions of your previous experiences, like a part-time project manager in “XYZ” organisation. Entry-level, junior and mid-level candidates must also include their relevant experiences in the job description.
Most people don’t know where to add the job description to the resume. It should be in your resume’s top half of the first page. Hiring managers mostly check the potential employee’s job description from their resume. So, keeping it on the first page will help them determine whether you’re suitable for their company.
Start each description with essential information; don’t add irrelevant details in this resume section. Additionally, you must add your employment time interval and the city or state where your previous company was.
Using action-benefit statements on the job description increases the chance of getting the job. For instance, you can add the action you took when you faced a challenge in the previous job role.
Write about the positive changes you bring to the company, like faster product delivery or sales increase. However, you shouldn’t add too much personal information in the resume job description. Double-check the spelling and fix the grammatical errors before submitting the resume.
