Top 10 Resume mistakes

1. Lack of Clarity

If a potential employer cannot understand your work history, skills, or any other portion of the resume clearly and easily, you have already lost the job. They will not take the time to figure it out. They have stacks of other candidates, and your resume goes in the trash.

2. Cramming Too Much Information Onto the Page

Resumes that include too-small font, dense paragraphs, etc., can be overwhelming and unappealing to hiring managers. If you make it too hard for them to read your resume, they simply won’t, and they will move on to the next candidate. Use a standard font size between 11 and no longer then 14, also by using appropriate headings, bullet points, and bold font (sparingly) you itemize your resume in an appealing and easy to read way.

 3. Not Using the Right Key Words

Many job seekers don't use the best key words that will be recognized in an applicant tracking system. These systems search for key words based on the job description. An example could be the use of the term ‘recruiter,’ versus ‘talent acquisitor’ — depending on the industry, either term may be used. Reflect on the wording in the job posting — that is how the resume should be worded.

4. Taking a One-Size-Fits-All Approach

If you try to develop a one-size-fits-all resume to send to a variety of employers, you will most likely end up with your resume tossed in the wastebasket. Employers want you to write a resume specifically for them. For this reason you should have more then one resume, one for each job field you would like to highlight your expertise. You need to be willing to write the job description and tailor your resume for the job you want. 

5. Making It All About You

What is the biggest question your potential employer has for you, What can you do for me? The mistake is in not answering that question.In that top quarter of your resume, you will be lucky to get a 3-10 second review, and therefore, it is critical to answer this question to ensure your potential employers continues to evaluate your resume. Start with the most important skill sets, abilities, accomplishments or attributes — most important to the employer — that you bring to the table. Align your resume with the prospective position, allowing the reader to easily identify you in that position. 

6. Using an Inappropriate Email Address

Don’t use a personal email address geared more for playtime than work. Wildgirl215 is fine to communicate with your close friends but not in the professional world. Google, Yahoo and MSN all offer free e-mail address. In an employers eyes there is no excuse not to have a professional email. Joe.Doe0316@email.com is a perfectly except-able email handle. 

7. Focusing on Tasks Instead of Results

Use bullet points under job descriptions to showcase your accomplishments, not the tasks assigned to your former role. Did you simplify & standardize a set of processes? Develop industry knowledge? Save time or other resources? Use the bullets to describe your achievements using the skills the employer seeks. 

8. Listing Skills They Don’t Really Have

One of the most common resume mistakes I have seen is when candidates list skills they don’t actually have. Remember: anything that is listed on your resume is fair game for an interview. Candidates should be cautious to list skills or acronyms when they really have no understanding of or experience with that skill or technology. 

9. Not Providing Enough Context

It’s great to list your day-to-day responsibilities, but unless we know what your company does, your goals within your department, or what you’ve accomplished in your role, these tasks come across as relatively meaningless.

 10. Forgetting to Be Themselves

I’ve seen many resumes that do not sound or look like the person I’m sitting across from. In some cases, professional resume writers craft the resume’s content to the point where the candidate cannot speak to the experience listed.

Be sure you will feel proud and focused when you hand over your resume. Can you speak to every job, result, and accomplishment listed? Does your resume reflect your humor, energy, passion, and confidence? If your resume looks sophisticated and professional, yet you are relaxed and casual, it will be a challenge to get a hiring manager to see that you are the same person listed on the pages.