Seven Resumé Mistakes That Must Be Avoided

Putting together a great resumé is a vital part of getting hired. Anyone who wants to have a successful career must perfect their resumé creation skills. Creating a good resumé, however, is as much about what not to do. Many people shortchange themselves by committing certain easily avoidable yet common mistakes. Here are the seven common resumé mistakes you must avoid.

1. Grammatical and spelling errors. Obvious though this rule may seem, basic mistakes in grammar and spelling are often seen on resumés. Errors on such a basic level are a huge hindrance to getting hired, indicating a serious lack of professionalism and attention to detail. The solution is careful proofreading. Besides yourself, have someone else proofread as well.

2. Too long. Hiring managers usually have to go through a large number of resumés. They are not willing to spend time on an inefficient time-waster of a resumé. A resumé should generally not be longer than two pages. Get to the point quickly. When editing your resumé, make it your goal to simplify and strip down.

3. Using a generic resumé. Job openings are generally not all alike. While the easiest approach to job hunting is to use the exact same resumé for each application, this lazy strategy will not be effective. You must tailor your resumé for the details of each job, showing why you are right for the specific circumstances of the position.

4. Emphasizing responsibilities over accomplishments. A mere description of your duties at your last job is not an especially good indicator of your value as an employee. Your prospective employers want concrete evidence of what you can do for them. You need to showcase your actual accomplishments.

5. Strange, distracting formatting. A quality resumé is all about communication. A professional image must be presented to readers. A clear, simple layout is the rule for resumés. You don’t want anything that will irritate or distract a reader. Avoid bright colors, graphics, or weird fonts. Be organized and use subheadings for clarity as well.

6. Lack of specificity. Many resumés become lost in vague generalizations. You won’t get hired if your resumé provides no clear sense of what you are actually good at. Quantify your skills and performance as much as possible. Don’t hide behind inflated, ambiguous terms. Trying to puff up your resumé is only counterproductive.

7. Including irrelevant information. Your resumé is all about demonstrating your suitability for the job you are applying for. Extraneous information will only annoy whoever reads it. Cut down on information on jobs or skills with little relevance to your prospective position. Be particularly sure to keep personal life information to a minimum.

A poor-quality resumé can doom your chances at the job right off the bat. Most people hiring do not have the time to give a second chance to candidates with bad resumés. It’s especially a shame when job seekers who are actually strong candidates short-circuit their shot at the job. Maximize your chances of getting hired by avoiding the most common resumé mistakes.