Top Mistakes People Make On Their Resumes
There are a lot of tips out there on how to make your resume great—what to write, what type of design template to use, important add-ons, etc. And while these things are so important, we’re going to take it back to basics and cover 5 simple and preventable mistakes that are easily and often overlooked.
Here are the top 5 mistakes you should look out for when creating or revising your resume:
1. Grammar and Spelling Mistakes
You don’t have to be an English wiz to have good grammar and spelling, and luckily, most word processing softwares have spell check built in to give you a helping hand. Try installing the basic Grammarly plan. It’s free and will automatically review your writing so you don’t have to fret over the details.
With this being said, don’t overlook the value of a good proofread from friends and family. Sometimes, when you’ve been staring at something for too long, it can be easy to miss small details.
2. Listing Irrelevant Experience or Information
When applying to any job, it’s important to tailor your resume in different ways. One of the most basic ways you can do this is by cutting out experiences and information that’s just not relevant.
Here are some general examples:
Listing the name of your high school and work experiences from that time (unless you’re still in college, then this is okay)
A headshot (if you’re in the performing arts or other relevant industry, this could be different)
Listing menial work tasks like picking up coffee, shredding papers, or running errands (instead, write something like “managed day-to-day tasks”)
Including work duties or skills that are irrelevant to the job you’re applying for
Need Help With Your Job Search?
Enroll in our online course, Find a Job Fast: The Job Search Accelerator For Career Professionals
3. Too Short or Too Long
Under each job or education section, you’ll need to include a list of duties or a description of that experience. Depending on how many jobs or schools you list, the amount of writing space you’ll have will differ.
It might be easy to write out a few key points and call it a day, or, you might be tempted to list every possible part of your experience out of fear of leaving things out. I’m here to tell you: find a happy medium. Quality over quantity, my friends.
Take a little time to be intentional about each section and only include the most important information, like skills and experiences that could transfer to the job you’re applying for.
PRO TIP: break down each duty or description and then reword it using action words like “achieved,” “assisted,” or “implemented.” Google “resume action words” for a more comprehensive list.
4. Disorganization
There’s nothing worse for a hiring manager then opening up an application and not being able to understand or follow the resume. This is why having an organized, easy-to-read format is so important.
Stick to the basics when it comes to dividing things up into sections: education, work experience, a short bio, skills, and contact information. Depending on your industry and role you’re applying for, you might want to include a link to your portfolio.
As for the nitty gritty details, double check the font/s and font sizes you’re using in order to keep things consistent. Order things in the same way, too.
For example, list the name of a company first, your role second, any duties in a bulleted list underneath, and then the timeframe in a different column. Lastly, list things in a reverse chronological way.
Typically, your most recent experiences go at the top of each section. For helpful and organized templates, be sure to check out Canva.
5. Missing contact information
This is so important, yet so easy to forget. Even if you nail everything else on your resume, forgetting or accidentally including the wrong contact information could result in your employer not being able to contact you for a potential interview.
To prevent this from happening, double check your information and place it in an easy-to-spot location on the document. At baseline, you should include your email and phone number. You might also include a link to your LinkedIn profile and if applicable, your address or city.
Now that you know what mistakes to avoid, don’t be afraid to go the extra mile and make your resume really stand out. Happy job hunting!
Related:
Meet The Writer!
Hello! My name is Lea Rose and I am an avid writer with a love for all things international. I recently graduated from UNC Charlotte with degrees in Communication Studies as well as Dance Performance and hope to be a full time travel writer one day. My writing primarily focuses on the ways places and experience shape us as individuals. Please feel free to check out my blog or connect with me through LinkedIn or Instagram @writtenworldblog.
