5 Resume Mistakes Telecommuters Often Make

Finding a legit telecommute job can be difficult. Telecommute jobs are in high demand and hundreds if not thousands of other people are competing for the same position.

So how do you stand apart from everyone else? Your résumé.

Your telecommute résumé the first and often the only document a potential employer has to make a hiring decision with. Here are some tips specifically for your telecommute résumé to keep it on the employer’s desk and out of “file number 13”.

I have consulted with telecommute résumé expert Jennifer Anthony of Résumé ASAP to get a list of the top five telecommute résumé mistakes. Here they are!

1. Wild designs or frilly fonts.

If you want to be taken seriously for consideration, avoid using cursive fonts or cutesy clip art. Leave this to personal use; it does not belong on business correspondence. Also, check your e-mail signatures. You don’t want to send your résumé out and then sign your name “Mommy to Sean and Sissy” with little angel graphics around their names.

2. Résumé templates.

“I know for a fact that recruiters hate templates and would rather rip their hair out than read templates”, Jennifer Anthony

Recruiters and hiring managers spend their day (often overtime) sorting through hundreds of résumés. Templates are hard to read, and the design elements often don’t show up correctly on a monitor other than that your own. Hiring managers need to be able to scan your document quickly to see if you are qualified before moving on. If they can’t find out in 6-8 seconds, your résumé is trash. It is better to start with a blank document and look at other résumé examples for inspiration.

3. The selfish objective statement.

If you are using the same old objective statement as everyone else, your résumé may be thrown in the trash because you did not put forth the effort to create a personalized résumé.

Here is an example objective you should avoid:

“A telecommute position allowing me to utilize my knowledge and expertise working from home.”

Why? This statement opens up many questions. What kind of telecommute position? What is your knowledge and expertise? Also take note that using the words “me” and “my” sound very selfish. Instead of telling them what you want, you should be showing them what you have to offer them.

Here is an example of what you can use as your headline:

“Talented and experienced virtual assistant, skilled in all aspects of office management within nonprofit environments.”

(More headline examples can be found at RésuméASAP).

This is targeted and to the point. The reader knows this person is an experienced virtual assistant who is especially skilled in a nonprofit role. No wasted time.

4. Irrelevant Experience.

Don’t list irrelevant work experience just to fill in space. If you are applying for a transcription position, your customer service experience at the local fast food restaurant does not apply. What matters is how much transcribing experience you have, how fast you type, how good your spelling and grammar skills are, and how accurate your work is. Any work experience that deals with these skills can be listed.

5. Personal Information.

Leave off information like how many children you have, how long you have been married, or that you happen to love scuba diving

Let’s look at children and spouses for instance. Some people may see this as stability, but many others look at it as a liability. They may have questions about how you will work out for them with the responsibilities. How often will this person miss work because his/her kids are sick? Is his/her spouse supportive of the telecommuting role? Can he/she work efficiently if the children are home? Employers are not allowed to ask, so why put this on your résumé. Personal information should be left off.

If you write that you love scuba diving, you may think this makes you look like a well-rounded person. However, it could give someone the idea that you love scuba diving more than work. It is best to just leave this kind of info off.

Work at home job leads March 14

Please Note- A Legit Company will not ask you for money. These are unresearched work at home job leads. Use common sense if it sounds too job to be true-it probably is. Please post in comments if you have any replies to the jobs applied

Telework Recruiting largest database of homebased jobs.

Contract Recruiter San Fransisco

Natural Food Mastro San Fransisco

Jr. Online Media Specialist San Fransisco

Virtual Admin Assistant San Fransisco

Development Director

Foxpro Albany onsite for 3 months and then telecommute

TYPIST FOR GRAD STUDENT

New business development

MS Publisher and Powerpoint Boston/Cambridge


Technical Recruiter So Easton MA 2 days in office and then telecommute

Work at home job leads Mar 11

Please Note- A Legit Company will not ask you for money. These are unresearched work at home job leads. Use common sense if it sounds too job to be true-it probably is. Please post in comments if you have any replies to the jobs applied

Telework Recruiting largest database of homebased jobs.

Lead Generation Atlanta GA



Call Center or Sales Professionals

RN Case manager Huntsville MD

Sales Philly PA 10% travel required

Research Associate Nationwide Please do your research on this-this one is sort of iffy. If they ask for money run the other way.

Work at home job leads March 9th

Please Note- A Legit Company will not ask you for money. These are unresearched work at home job leads. Use common sense if it sounds too job to be true-it probably is. Please post in comments if you have any replies to the jobs applied

Telework Recruiting largest database of homebased jobs.

customer service la

inside sales Chicago

medical coder MD

CUSTOMER SERVICE MI

Inside Sales CA

Lead Generation

Work at home jobs Mar 10

Please Note- A Legit Company will not ask you for money. These are unresearched work at home job leads. Use common sense if it sounds too job to be true-it probably is. Please post in comments if you have any replies to the jobs applied

Telework Recruiting largest database of homebased jobs.

Freelance music reviewer San Fransisco

PHP-Programmer San Fransisco

Work at home job leads March 8th

Please Note- A Legit Company will not ask you for money. These are unresearched work at home job leads. Use common sense if it sounds too job to be true-it probably is. Please post in comments if you have any replies to the jobs applied

Telework Recruiting largest database of homebased jobs.

virtutal assistant nationwide

Marketing specialist Boston

Personal excutive assistant Nationwide

telemarketing Los Angeles

Work at home job leads March 7th

Please Note- A Legit Company will not ask you for money. These are unresearched work at home job leads. Use common sense if it sounds too job to be true-it probably is. Please post in comments if you have any replies to the jobs applied

Telework Recruiting largest database of homebased jobs.

transcription Nationwide



Billing Manager Brentwood TN

appointment setter St Pete FL



PT BOOKKEEPER St Petersburg FL