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You never get a second chance to make a first impression. For most new jobs, your resume is your first impression. So, it’s very important to understand what your resume is saying about you. Even minor errors on a resume can sink your chances with a prospective employer and dash your dreams of securing a potentially lucrative position. So, it’s best to take your time and ensure that you’ve made every effort to avoid these common pitfalls.
Mistake 1: Formatting Errors
Although some leeway and creativity are allowed for your resume, recruiters expect to see a certain format and to read things in a certain order, so it’s always safe to stick with a standard format, unless there is a compelling reason to do otherwise. The normal order of your resume should be:
- Profile Summary
Since this is the first thing the recruiter will see, it should definitely not be lackluster. It should showcase all your talents, and alert the recruiter to whether there is something worthwhile coming and whether it’s worth the time to continue reading. In this section, summarize the skills and experience that embody your talents.
- Professional Experience
This should be in reverse chronological order. This means that you list your most recent job experience first in the order. Make sure they see your current position right up front. This helps recruiters quickly understand where you are right now in your professional career, while at the same time having a chance to review your career progression.
- Education and Certifications
List your education and certifications follow your Experience section. Feel free to highlight any honors or relevant coursework.
If you decide to deviate from this format, make sure it’s clearly done purposely and for some effect. Since the reverse chronological format resume is the one that most widely used, it is what most recruiters are expecting to see. If you use something else, it may appear that you put together your resume haphazardly.
Generally speaking, you should start with your profile summary.
Mistake 2: Resume Not Tailored to Job
One of the biggest mistakes that job hunters often make is using a generic resume, instead of taking the time to tailor it to the specific job they are seeking. By tailoring your resume, you ensure that you highlight how your specific skills and experience relate directly to the job being advertised. Take the time to identify what part of your professional history ties in best with the job you are hoping to get. Focus on the accomplishments which demonstrate this connection. When you do this, you ensure that the recruiter does not have to hunt around and guess why you are the perfect candidate for the job.
Mistake 3: Lack of Job-Focused Keywords
It’s not just what you say, but the specific words you choose to use to say it. In the ever-automated world we live in, using just the right word is often key. This is especially true for resumes. In the pursuit of efficiency, 98% of Fortune 500 companies and a growing number of small and mid-sized businesses filter resumes through an applicant tracking system (ATS) before someone takes a look. It is vital that your resume is optimized for keywords to ensure that Applicant Tracking Software (ATS) can find it. Unfortunately, this software is not perfect, and even highly qualified candidates can be overlooked. In order to optimize your resume, just follow these steps:
- Read the job description carefully
- Highlight any distinctive words used in the ad
- Use as many of these words in your resume as possible
Of course, it goes without saying, do not just add these words haphazardly. Carefully weave them into your description of your work history.
Mistake 4: Listing Duties Instead of Impact
This is probably one of the most common mistakes. A resume that knows the difference between duties and impact will really set itself apart from the crowd. A good resume shows impact and how you used your special combination of skills and expertise helped you achieve your goal. When writing your resume, don’t just think of what you were responsible for doing. Instead, think about what you achieved, why it was important, and what unique blend of skills were critical for getting the job done.
Mistake 5: Grammatical Errors and Misspellings
Don’t let a minor typo cause an otherwise outstanding resume to be tossed out. Submitting an error-free resume illustrates that you are a committed individual who cares about doing a first-rate job. When you are writing your resume, proofread, proofread, and proofread. And when you’re done doing that, try proofreading again. It is also good to have family and friends proofread your resume as well to check for any phrases that are awkward or unclear. As stated above, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. So, take the time to make sure your first impression counts!