Resume writing can be overwhelming. After all, this one or two-page document can make or break your chances of employment. When you start the resume writing process, be sure to avoid these 4 huge resume writing mistakes.
1. The Killer Errors
You might think a spelling error is the worst type of error you could make on a resume. It certainly will not boost your chances of scoring a job interview if you have a spelling error on your resume, but one single error might not kill all of your chances. Obviously, if your resume is riddled with errors, you aren’t going to look attractive to prospective employers.
However, beyond the obvious spelling errors, failing to double check your contact information truly can be job killer. Even if the rest of your resume writing is flawless, listing an email address or phone number incorrectly makes it kind of tough for a hiring manager to get in touch with you. Likewise, if you provide incorrect contact info for your references, this also can kill your chances of being hired.
2. Being Honest Is Key
You might think that a white lie or two won’t really hurt anyone, but it certainly can make it impossible for you to get a job. When you are resume writing, don’t falsify information. Don’t list skills you don’t have and don’t lie about your educational background.
Rather than lie, simply craft your resume writing so that it showcases your strengths and be prepared to discuss problematic issues in an interview. For instance, if you have a gap in employment, rather than trying to fudge the dates for which you worked for certain companies, just be honest about the gap during an interview. If you spent a year climbing mountains in Tibet or took a year off to write the great American novel, you may as well come clean. Perhaps you can present the hiring team with a few concrete skills you learned during this gap that improve your ability to be a great employee.
3. A Messy Resume
By messy, we don’t mean that your recipe is stained with ketchup or dribbled with soy latte, we mean that the design isn’t clean, sharp and focused. The best resumes are those that are easy to read and feature a clean design. When resume writing, stick with just one or two basic fonts and don’t add any pictures or decorative touches.
In addition, when resume writing, keep your verbiage simple and to the point. Don’t write large, complex paragraphs about your work experience and qualifications. Stick with dynamic, active sentences that quickly showcase your skills. A hiring manager might have to sift through a pile of 100 or more resumes. This person doesn’t have time to read your three page extravaganza about every life experience you’ve had. Try to keep it to one page, if possible.
4. Including The Wrong Information
There are many items that should be included during the resume writing process. This includes your educational background, your work experience, any pertinent additional training and your general qualifications. In some cases, an objective statement describing your goals also is needed.
The items you should omit during resume writing include your age (employers can’t even ask how old you are anyway), your religion, your marital status, how many kids you have, your hobbies and your interests. Hiring managers typically cannot ask many of these questions in the interview, and the answers really shouldn’t affect your job performance. Companies are simply looking for well-trained, hard-working innovative employees with a positive attitude.
Resume writing is a difficult skill, which is why we always encourage people to hire a professional to craft your resume. We have listed several resume writing services that consistently produce high-quality, dynamic resumes. Take a look at our reviews and then get started on your path to a great career.
