Resumes Common Mistakes to Avoid
“I hope I didn’t bore you too much with my life story” –Elvis Presley
The resume tells the story of your professional life. It paints a picture of your career achievements and abilities for the reader. If you are planning on impressing the reader, to get that dream job or build a valuable connection, then you need to make certain that your resume is engaging and relevant.
To help you build the best impression and avoid commonresume mistakes, here are 3 key things to keep in mind when you will be drafting up a new resume or polishing an existing one.
One size fits allSending the same comprehensive resume for all job applications sounds extremely convenient. However, it can also be an extremely fatal decision. Every job posting is unique in its own way, and all recruiters (even in the same industry) may not be looking for exactly the same qualities in potential employees. The best approach is to analyse job descriptions individually, andtailor resumesbased on the major qualities and keywords mentioned in the job description and even the company’s website.
TyposOften the smallest mistake can put off resume readers, and prompt them to createa sloppy imageabout you. Avoid that indefinitely by proofreading your resume for grammar and structural errors. In addition to that, focus on the overall formatting of your resume. Some things to look out for include capitalisation of proper nouns, appropriate spacing around paragraphs and punctuation marks, wrong contact information and improper auto-correct suggestions.
Hobbies and interestsIt is great to be involved in activities related to fields outside of your work. However, they do not need to be mentioned in a resume if they are not pertinent to the job description. A list ofhobbies and interestsis not a mandatory section in a resume if it does not aid in creating your ‘perfect job fit’ image in the eyes of the recruiter. For example, mentioning photography as an interest for a Graphic Designer’s position makes good sense. However, photography may not be the most impactful aspect for a Bank Manager’s position as photography is not related to the banking field and it also does not involve desirable managerial skills such as team cooperation.
In addition to the three crucial mistakes to avoid in a resume, here are some small but notable mentions in the list ofcommon resume mistakesthat you should avoid.
Unprofessional and inappropriate email addressLengthy resumes (over 2 pages)Personal information (such as marital status, gender and religion)Fancy and incomprehensible fontUnexplained abbreviationsListing references or stating they are available on requestNot mentioning the applicant’s name in the document title
These and related information should now make you well-informed on common resume mistakes. With this knowledge, you can steer away fromresume blunders, and establish a favourable image about your past and prospective professional endeavours.
