Common Resume Writing Mistakes
When you are writing your resume, you
want to do a great job, right? You know you are going to need an awesome
resume to get you on your way to an interview. Doesn't it make sense to present your credentials in the most amazing way possible so the
employer can't help but call you for an interview? This is the general opinion
that would make sense, and yet, resumes end up on the desks of human resources
personnel every day that are distinctive in their absolute inattention to
detail. If you want your resume to be a good one that gets read, you must avoid the mistakes listed below. Everything on this list is simply common
sense, but it does help to be prepared. One of the reasons these
mistakes are often made is that some job candidates have no idea how to create
a professional document, and they are also unwilling to take the time to learn
how to do it. Also, many people are just too lazy to be
bothered. They also do not want to spend the time it takes to compose a great resume, much less proofread their material after they
are done. Employers have no time to waste on people who are not going to make
the effort to ensure their resume is free of errors. Those are not the kind of
people they are looking to hire. Here is a list of common sense tips to help you avoid mistakes: ·
Take the time to
create a professional resume that stands out because it is exactly what
employers are looking for. You will be far ahead of the competition. ·
Proofread all
your material and then proofread it again. Be sure to use your spell check
options. If you have to, have your neighbors, friends, family and anyone else
you can get, review your resume for you. Ask them to look for typos and
grammar errors. ·
Do not use small
fonts like those that are size 9 and under. Do not use too many different fonts
in the same document either. An employer is going to scan your resume, not
fully read it. If the type is hard to read or is difficult to follow, no one is
going to spend any time on it at all. Keep the type to at least a 10 point font and
use only one font at a time. Make it easy on the person who is going to be reading
it. ·
Know that if
your resume highlights your previous or current job duties but omits the actual
skills you have mastered or the accomplishments you have made, the person who
reads it will not be able to see your special talents and abilities. ·
Make sure you focus your attention on what you have to offer rather than what your
responsibilities were in your past jobs. Whenever it is at all possible you
should include numbers with your statements. Instead of saying you "helped the
company," you should explain how you did it. You have to be specific because
vague assertions have no value. ·
Do not get so
wrapped up in the way the resume is supposed to look that you forget to address what it is supposed to get across. ·
Be clear with
what you want to say. Do not ramble on and repeat yourself over and over
again. This will only make your resume too hard to scan through. ·
Do not use
colored or scented paper. It may look cute to see that in movies, like "Legally
Blonde," but in real life it is just annoying and detracts from the overall impression of
the resume. |