Are mistakes on your resume keeping you from landing your dream job? These top resume blunders are all too common--and they could mean the difference between landing your dream job and another six months spent searching.
1. You say too much
You should be proud of your career training and accomplishments, but it's important to highlight your best, most relevant achievements on your resume. Consider trimming extra information, including repeated mentions of individual skills, your knowledge of commonly used software programs, and vague positive qualities (such as your ability to work on a team).
While you're at it, cut some unnecessary fluff from your pages. Employers assume that references are available upon request, so you don't need to say so.
2. You say too little
We were all taught to keep our resumes to one slim page, but times are changing. With more people changing jobs multiple times over the course of a career, multiple pages are becoming necessary. If you have decades of education and work experience behind you, two pages should give you enough space to fit it all in.
Make sure you note your career training and education, including associates, bachelors, and master's degrees along with certifications and other details.
3. Negative language in the cover letter
For applications that require a cover letter, stay positive. If you're still earning an associate's degree in accounting, note your anticipated graduation date instead of admitting that you don't have the degree yet.
If you're applying for a job in a new career field, don't highlight your lack of experience in your cover letter. Remember that everyone has to start low on the career ladder, and talk about how your previous work experience and education relate to your career future.
4. You stretch the truth
It's all too easy to fib on your resume, particularly if you don't remember details such as when exactly you worked at a previous company or the name of the software or technology you worked with.
However, it's important to stay as close to the facts as you can. Potential employers checking on details will see any discrepancy as an immediate red flag. Stay on the safe side and call your old employers to confirm your facts.
5. It's a design disaster
Your impulse should be to have a resume that stands out from the crowd. However, curly fonts and clip art aren't the way to rise above the rest. Think of the resume itself as a window through which your future employer views your skills: the more clutter surrounding that window, the harder it will be to look through.
Consider using a resume template that comes with your word processing program. If no templates are available, check online for resume styles that look classic and simple. Don't try to reinvent the wheel with your resume's appearance; let your work and training history speak for itself.
6. It has mistakes
Even small errors can seriously undermine your chances of getting an interview. Any employer hiring for a job that requires precision and attention to detail (and what jobs don't?) will strongly prefer resumes that don't contain spelling or mechanical errors in their content.
After you've spent weeks or months working on the perfect resume, it might be difficult for you to see any mistakes on it. To help ensure that the document is as perfect as you can make it, show your resume to a few friends and family members to get second opinions.
7. You generalize your skills
Get specific! If you have a bachelor's degree in business management, mention a few courses that would be most useful to the position you're looking for. Employers like to see resumes and cover letters tailored to their business. Staying too general can make it look like you've submitted your resume everywhere; even if you have, it's best to not make that clear to hiring managers.
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