A really good resume is what is holding you back from your dream job. In most cases, a resume forms the first contact with an employer for most job vacancies, and you have to make sure it is perfect. Most job seekers fall prey to the snare of making some common mistakes in their resume that tend to reduce their chances of being noticed. What follows are the top five things that shouldn’t be in your resume and how you can fix it to make an outstanding resume in today’s competitive job market.
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Failure to Customize the Resume
- Mistake: The most common mistake that occurs with resumes is sending out one general resume for every application. Many candidates apply with the mindset of one size fits all, in which they feel that an all-general resume can do the trick for any position they might apply for. However, this will tend to depict your application as unfocused or irrelevant to the position offered.
- Solution: It’s quite important to tailor your resume toward any application that you’re intending to make. Read the job description carefully and underline each of the key skills and qualifications the employer is looking for. With that, tailor your resume to those experiences and skills that point toward your meeting the requirements. Use some of the key words from the job description in order to enable your resume to get through the ATS Tracking Systems and to catch the eye of human resources people. For instance, if the job calls for “project management“, be sure to illuminate where you have successfully managed projects.
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Awful Resume Formatting
- Mistake: An unorganized, messy, or improperly formatted resume is an instant flashing red flag. Hiring managers normally scan through resumes; poor formatting makes it hard for them, normally, to catch the most vital information.
- Solution: use clean, professional format with consistent font and spacing. Set font to a readable size-in other words, 10-12 points-and use Arial or Times New Roman font. Your resume should be divided into easy-to-read sections. For example, “Experience,” “Education,” and “Skills.” You want to utilize bullet points in order to point out achievements and make the text easier to read. Leave adequate white space without cluttering the reader.
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Needless Data in the Resume
- Mistake: Anything that is put into your resume must relate to the job you are applying for or you should leave it out altogether so that it doesn’t make your resume appear sloppy and take away from what is valuable. These may include outdated skills and experience that bear no relevance with the job at hand, and personal information unrelated to the profession.
- Solution: You will include information that relates to the job for which you are seeking to apply. Observe work experiences and underline those experiences and skills relevant to the job posting. If the job is in marketing, for example, let the prime focus be on creating campaigns, data analysis, and experiences related to digital tools. Also avoid mentioning anything unrelated to your focus, be it jobs or hobbies. Again, you do not need to state your personal information such as age, marital status, or even attach a picture since it is not needed and it brings bias into this.
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Not Mentioning Your Achievements and Results in the Resume
- Mistake: Only elaborating on your work responsibilities in writing without mentioning your achievements can make your resume very simple and less attractive. Most employers like to see the difference one has brought to other previous employers.
- Solution: This is where you need to mention your achievements and results achieved. Do this with concrete examples, wherever possible, and be sure to quantify your success. So, instead of “Managed a team,” it would be, “Managed a team of 10 employees, increasing project efficiency by 20%.” Doing that shows context and proves the value you could possibly deliver to an employer.
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Not Taking the Time to Edit and Proofread Your Résumé
- Mistake: Typos, grammatical errors, and other inconsistencies are likely the most obtrusive kinds of mistakes you can make in a résumé. A mistake like this can undermine your professionalism and attention to detail.
- Solution: Proof read your resume very carefully for mistakes prior to mailing it. At minimum you should read your resume three to four times and have someone else read it as well. Sometimes a fresh set of eyes will catch what you’ve missed. Additionally use spell check and grammar check, but remember it is infallible. Be aware of homophones and use consistency throughout when it comes to document formatting.
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Bonus Tip: Explaining Gaps in Employment and Job Hopping
- Mistake: If there is unemployment for any period of time, or too many job changes on the resume, these could raise several questions to a potential employer. They could ask about your career stability or why you needed to leave previous jobs.
- Solution: Face the gaps or frequent job triggers head on. Gaps: If there have been gaps in the résumé, explain them briefly in the best light possible—for additional training or personal development. It is also true that when frequent job changes have to be emphasized, this translates to the skills and experiences of each job that makes this candidate an even more desirable hire; therefore, it is not necessary to dwell on the tenure at each job.
Avoiding these most common resume mistakes surely results in enhanced positive impression by the hiring managers. Tailor your resume; arrange it coherently; bring relevant details to the fore; quantify your achievements; and edit rigorously. Just remember, your résumé is you talking on a professional level. Spend time and energy trying to perfect it, and then you are one step closer to the job you want.
