ATHENS, Greece, October 29 /PRNewswire/ --

- Hiring Managers Share the Most Common Resume Mistakes and Offer Tips
for Creating an Effective Resume

Is your resume more fact or fiction? While only 11 percent of workers in
Greece admit they have lied on a resume, more than two-thirds (68 percent) of
employers say they have caught a lie on a resume according to a new
Kariera.gr survey of employers and workers in Greece. Of those employers who
caught a lie, 42 percent automatically dismissed the applicant, 50 percent
still considered the candidate, but did not hire him/her and only 7 percent
went on to hire the candidate.

The most common lies Greek employers say they find on resumes include:

-- Skill set: 40 percent
    -- Embellished responsibilities: 21 percent
    -- Companies worked for: 13 percent
    -- Job title: 9 percent
    -- Dates of employment: 4 percent



The following are the biggest mistakes Greek employers say candidates
make on their resumes:

-- Not customizing resume for the position: 40 percent
    -- Including only skills, not accomplishments: 15 percent
    -- Not focusing on results: 9 percent
    -- Including too much information: 9 percent
    -- Lies: 9 percent
    -- Including too little information: 6 percent
    -- Spelling errors: 6 percent



When asked what they look for most on a good resume, Greek employers
said:

-- Customized to the position: 40 percent
    -- Relevant experience: 27 percent
    -- Career summary: 20 percent
    -- Focused on results: 9 percent



"Everything you do in the application and interview process sends an
employer a message about what it is like to work with you," said Theofilos
Vasileiadis, Managing Director of Kariera.gr. "Even small embellishments like
slight date changes or overstating responsibilities can hurt your credibility
with a potential employer. If you are worried about employment gaps or
whether you look qualified, use a cover letter to explain areas of concern
and tell your unique story."

Vasileiadis recommends the following tips to make your resume stand out
for the right reasons:

Be specific

Nearly one-third (30 percent) of Greek employers say they are receiving
more resumes than last year. Tailor your resume and cover letter to the
position at hand to get the attention of a recruiter and to show them you are
really interested in the position and have done your homework.

Stand out from the crowd

More than one-third (36 percent) of hiring managers said on average they
spend 60 seconds or less looking at a resume when first reviewing an
application and 58 percent said they spend less than two minutes. Highlight
specific accomplishments that are relevant to the job, quantifying results
whenever possible to demonstrate the impact you had on your previous
employers. A summary of relevant experience and qualifications at the
beginning of a resume can also help focus the reader.

Use keywords

Hiring managers often use electronic scanning tools or manually scan
resumes for certain words that signify you are qualified for a job. Be sure
to pay attention to the words used in the job description and include them in
your resume. The terms employers search for most often are:

-- Customer service or retention (44 percent)
    -- Bilingual or languages spoken (44 percent)
    -- Team building (38 percent)
    -- Oral and written communications (35 percent)
    -- Project management (31 percent)
    -- Technology (31 percent)
    -- Problem-solving and decision-making (28 percent)
    -- Performance and productivity improvement (24 percent)
    -- Internet (22 percent)



Survey Methodology

This survey was conducted online within Greece by Kapa Research S.A. on
behalf of Kariera.gr among 237 hiring managers and human resource
professionals (employed full-time; not self-employed; with at least
significant involvement in hiring decisions); and 656 Greek employees
(employed full-time; not self-employed) ages 18 and over between July 1 and
July 14, 2008 (percentages for some questions are based on a subset of
Employers or Employees, based on their responses to certain questions).

About Kariera.gr

Kariera.gr is the leading job site in Greece. It began to operate in
February 2000 and has become the largest and most renowned job site in Greece
with over 20.000 unique visitors per day and more than 136.000 registered
members (jobseekers) and 17.000 registered employers (companies, educational
institutions).

Press Contact:
    Athina Labropoulou
    PR & Communication Director
    +30-210-67-47-100 ext 114
    pr@kariera.gr



Web site: http://www.kariera.gr