Resume writing is a skill and like any other, some people possess it and others don’t. There are those who find resume writing to be confusing and those who even find it intimidating or downright impossible.
The truth is that everyone can create a good resume as long as they know the right steps on how to do it. The first step in creating a great resume is avoiding these common mistakes:
1) Failing to include an objective
A resume without an objective appears incomplete. Hiring managers look at the objectives of resumes to assess whether the applicant is suitable for the position or not. An applicable objective serves as guidance for what type of skills and qualities you have that you think would be needed for a specific job opening.
2) Failing to use action verbs
Action verbs help resume readers understand what you will do for them. They tell the reader whether you possess the skills needed for a job opening or not.
3) Focusing too much on work history
The work experience section should only include your most recent employment that is relevant to the job position applied for. Everything else in this section can be placed under “Professional Experience.” Once you get called for an interview, you can mention your old jobs and elaborate more extensively on your duties and accomplishments there.
4) Using irrelevant information
You want to make sure that every piece of information included in your resume is relevant to the position applied for. Otherwise, it’s like sending someone with no medical knowledge about vital organs to perform a surgery.
5) Including too much information
Another mistake on resumes, which is very common, is having too much information to the extent that it becomes cluttered and unreadable. You don’t want to appear like you’re trying too hard or desperate for attention. Keep your resume to one page if possible, so be sure to trim out unnecessary details.
6) Not proofreading your work
Always proofread your documents, no matter how good you think they are! Hiring managers often receive resumes with formatting errors and typos. This could indicate carelessness and lack of attention to detail, which translates into bad performance in the workplace.
7) Making grammatical/spelling mistakes
Spelling errors are just as fatal as a typo on a resume. It shows a lack of attention to detail and language skills. But more importantly, it makes the applicant appear unprofessional.
8) Failing to be culturally competent
In writing your resume, you must ensure that it doesn’t contain information that may cause offense or misinterpretation from whoever will see it. Employers want people who show cultural competence in their resumes. This means no discriminatory remarks/statements about the age, gender, religion, etc.; even if it may seem harmless to you! Failure to do so might make employers think twice before hiring you.
9) Using too much jargon
You don’t want your readers to be confused by the kinds of words and phrases included in your document. Your resume should be written in a way that is easy to understand.
10) Using wrong formatting
There are two kinds of resumes: chronological and functional formats. The former details all jobs held from the most recent down, listing duties and accomplishments quantitatively while highlighting career growth over time; whereas the latter focuses on services provided in various jobs rather than time spent at each one, with skills listed in specific categories instead of by job title. Make sure what format would be best suited for the kind of position you are applying for.
It’s important to take the time to write a resume that is clear and concise. This way, you’re more likely to get called in for an interview because hiring managers will be able to quickly identify ways that your skills can help benefit their company. You don’t want them spending too much time trying to figure out what you mean; they’ll just move on and call someone else who isn’t as confusing! We hope this guide has helped make crafting your perfect resume easier than before. And if not? Let us know – we would love nothing better than partnering with you or providing guidance throughout the process of writing one.