5 Most Common Resume Mistakes

Applying for a job can be a stressful business and mistakes can happen. However, resume errors can easily be avoided. In this article we gather five of the most common mistakes we’ve seen in resumes. If you find your resume is falling into any of these categories then try to change it up! 

1. Your resume is not reader friendly

It is important to make sure that your resume is reader friendly. It should be structured simply, include clear sub-headings and remain uncluttered. A simply typo or grammatical error can get your resume tossed in the bin so look over your resume several times and ask a friend to proofread it for any mistakes you might have missed. 

2. You haven’t tailored your resume to the position

When it comes to your resume, one size does not fit all. Your resume should be modified slightly for each position, highlighting your most relevant experience to the position you are applying for. 

3. You have relied on an online resume template

If you use an online resume template there is a good chance you will look like every other job seeker out there. Online resume templates can be outdated, include complex or difficult to read layouts and cause you to lose authenticity. 

4. You haven’t focused on your achievements

The competition for jobs is fierce and it is no longer enough to simply list duties and responsibilities from your previous positions. If you want to stand out from the other applicants you need to focus on what you accomplished in your previous experience rather than the activities you performed. Additionally, you should include key words from the job description to ensure that the terminology you use matches up with that of your potential future employer. 

5. Your resume is too brief

The trend of putting your whole resume on one page has changed and it is now accepted to have a resume that is a few pages long. Don’t go on for too long, but it is better to properly highlight all of your experiences than to condense everything into one page and miss out on including your achievements for each relevant position.

 

This article is based on the free eBook Time to find a new job, written by Gavin F. Redelman of RedStarResume and published by bookboon.com. You can find more than 1,000 free eBooks on bookboon.com. Topics range from career and personal development to MS Office and management. Visit bookboon.com to browse all of their free eBooks.