12 Common Resume Mistakes and How to Fix Them for Your Dream Job
Whenever you’re looking for a new job, creating a good resume can sometimes be the most difficult part of all! What do you include? What do you not include? There’s so much to think about! Luckily for you, we’ve got 12 mistakes that you might be making and how to avoid them.
1. The Novel-Length Resume
Imagine you’re an exhausted hiring manager, and you stumble upon a resume the length of “War and Peace.” Before you’ve reached the halfway point, you’re fast asleep. The trick? Keep it crisp, folks. If your work history is spilling over two pages, it’s time for a trim. Your resume should highlight your greatest hits and leave the audience wanting more.
2. The Mystery of Missing Contact Info
Believe it or not, some resumes are completely anonymous! If the hiring team can’t find your contact info, you’re out of the game. Make sure that you’ve put your name, phone number, and email on your resume – and make them clear! It should be easy for any hiring company to reach out to you.
3. The Typhoon of Typos
Nothing screams “attention to detail” quite like spelling the company’s name wrong. Proofread, then proofread again, and maybe even get a friend to give it the once-over. And remember, relying solely on spellcheck isn’t going to cut it. Sure, it might catch the big mistakes, but the subtle ones can slip right through.
4. The Fiasco of Font Overload
A resume with crazy fonts is going to get a hard pass. Stick to one or two clear fonts, and for goodness sake, let Comic Sans rest in peace! If you choose a clean, professional font, it’ll make it clear that you’re serious about the job. Your font is like your text’s suit – you want to look sharp, not like you’re dressed for a clown convention.
5. The Black Hole of Blank Space
Too much white space can make your resume look like it’s missing something – like your qualifications. Balance is key. Use bullet points for achievements and skills to create layouts that are easy to read and draw your readers’ eye to the important stuff. If you’ve got white space, use it to emphasize your points, not make it awkward.
6. The Jargon Jamboree
Ease up on the industry jargon and acronyms – it’s helping nobody! Clear, concise language demonstrates that you can communicate effectively with any audience. If you overuse jargon, it can come across as if you’re trying too hard, which is definitely not the impression you want to give a potential employer.
7. The One-Size-Fits-All Approach
Sure, sending the same resume to every job is easy, but it’s probably not going to get you results. Customize your resume to match the job description by talking about how your experience and skills match what they’re looking for. Show them you’re not just any candidate – you’re the candidate.
8. The Reference Roulette
“References available upon request” is the equivalent of saying nothing at all – of course, you’ll give references if you’re asked! Save that precious resume real estate for more compelling content about your awesome self. You’re wasting words by stating the obvious, so use them on something else.
9. Skills Section Overkill
Don’t just give a laundry list of skills like “I can use Microsoft Word.” That isn’t going to turn heads! Focus on the skills that set you apart and are relevant to the job – it’s quality over quantity, people. Listing every skill under the sun makes you look more desperate than distinguished. Cherry-pick the cherries, not the entire tree.
10. Missing Metrics
Supporting your achievements with numbers makes them seem more credible and adds a sense of scale to your accomplishments. “Increased sales by 20%” is far more impressive than simply stating you improved sales. Numbers speak louder than adjectives, so when you can, always let them do the talking.
11. Overusing Objective Statements
Gone are the days when you’d start your resume by talking about your job-seeking desires. Instead, we’re in the era of the summary statement, where you dazzle your potential employer with your skills and career triumphs. You want to mesmerize the hiring manager from the get-go, not send them scrolling past in search of excitement.
12. The Trophy Case Update
Are you still showing off your high school glory days? Unless you’re fresh out of the cap and gown, it’s time to retire those achievements. Today’s employers are scanning for the here and now – what impressive things have you done lately? If you’re only able to talk about very old achievements, that’s very telling for an employer.
Avoiding Mistakes
Each careful step you take will bring you closer to the job of your dreams. Remember, your resume is your personal billboard – make every word count, keep it relevant, and always, always proofread. If you follow these tips, then you’ll be well on your way to making an unforgettable first impression – for the right reasons.
Tamila McDonald is a U.S. Army veteran with 20 years of service, including five years as a military financial advisor. After retiring from the Army, she spent eight years as an AFCPE-certified personal financial advisor for wounded warriors and their families. Now she writes about personal finance and benefits programs for numerous financial websites.