The Most Common Mistakes when Writing a Resume

The Most Common Mistakes when Writing a Resume The Most Common Mistakes when Writing a Resume When an employer is looking through a stack of resumes they don’t have time to read every word on every resume. They dismiss many of them in a matter of seconds.There are are many traps that people fall into when writing a resume, and it is crucial that you know how to write a resume if you want yours to be taken seriously, and to get a job interview.Here are seven common mistakes you should avoid when writing a resumeTypos and grammatical errorsSpell check, proofread, double-check, check again, and then ask a friend or relative to look over it. It can be difficult to spot your own mistakes, so it’s a good idea to get someone to help you.These types of mistakes look unprofessional and give a negative first impression, make sure you take steps to avoid them.Including too much infoIn the vast majority of cases it is best to limit your resume to one or two pages. One page resumes are generally more effective, as long as they’re well-written, they will grab the attention of potenti al employers. Using a resume template an easy way to build a succinct resume.Too much information is off-putting for hirers looking through resumes, just imagine that you have a pile of 50 resumes to look through.Even if they take the time to read it, the strengths you want to highlight can be drowned out by long, wordy sentences and too much info.Being modestYou are trying to sell yourself on your resume so share any recognition or awards you’ve received. You can add these into your job descriptions, instead of simply listing your duties and responsibilities.This will show you made an impact within the organization you were working for.A one-size-fits-all resumeThere is no such thing as the perfect resume, but there is a perfect resume for each job. A typical mistake is to write a resume and to mass-mail it to numerous employers, hoping that one will reply.It is much more effective to tailor your resume to meet the needs of different jobs so highlight the experience and skills yo u have which match each job.If you don’t do this you’re putting yourself at a disadvantage. An online resume builder allows you change your resume easily for each application.Ignoring key skills and requirementsPotential employers scan resumes quickly, looking for the core skills and requirements of the vacancy they are filling. Your resume must show that you tick all the boxes if you want an interview.A good exercise to practise is to read the job description you’re applying for, make a list of the keywords, and then to work these into your resume.Many employers are now scanning resumes electronically to make sure the keywords are included before human eyes even look at them.Unexplained gapsUnexplained gaps will leave the employer wondering why they’re there, and why they’re unaccounted for. Explaining the gaps avoids this.Show employers that you have been pro-active between jobs, maybe you’ve been studying or working on a personal project. If you’ve been traveling or you’ve been sick, there’s no need to hide this. If it’s your first job this can be difficult and it’s essential that you know how to  write an entry-level resume.Telling liesThere is a huge difference between tailoring your resume to fit a job and making things up. Highlight your strengths but don’t lie. Employers will check the facts on your resume, these days it is not difficult to cross-check information.If you get caught, you will not get the job and you’ll be ruled out of getting any future positions in the company. Even if you manage to get the job, you will probably struggle to meet the expectations you have set, and you’ll have to worry about that each day.You may also get caught after you’ve started and lose your job as a result. The truth is that there is no need to lie if you know how to write an effective professional resume. The Most Common Mistakes when Writing a Resume When an employer is looking through a stack of resumes they don’t have time to read every word on every resume. They dismiss many of them in a matter of seconds.There are are many traps that people fall into when writing a resume, and it is crucial that you know how to write a resume if you want yours to be taken seriously, and to get a job interview.Here are seven common mistakes you should avoid when writing a resumeTypos and grammatical errorsSpell check, proofread, double-check, check again, and then ask a friend or relative to look over it. It can be difficult to spot your own mistakes, so it’s a good idea to get someone to help you.These types of mistakes look unprofessional and give a negative first impression, make sure you take steps to avoid them.Including too much infoIn the vast majority of cases it is best to limit your resume to one or two pages. One page resumes are generally more effective, as long as they’re well-written, they will grab the attention of potenti al employers. Using a resume template an easy way to build a succinct resume.Too much information is off-putting for hirers looking through resumes, just imagine that you have a pile of 50 resumes to look through.Even if they take the time to read it, the strengths you want to highlight can be drowned out by long, wordy sentences and too much info.Being modestYou are trying to sell yourself on your resume so share any recognition or awards you’ve received. You can add these into your job descriptions, instead of simply listing your duties and responsibilities.This will show you made an impact within the organization you were working for.A one-size-fits-all resumeThere is no such thing as the perfect resume, but there is a perfect resume for each job. A typical mistake is to write a resume and to mass-mail it to numerous employers, hoping that one will reply.It is much more effective to tailor your resume to meet the needs of different jobs so highlight the experience and skills yo u have which match each job.If you don’t do this you’re putting yourself at a disadvantage. An online resume builder allows you change your resume easily for each application.Ignoring key skills and requirementsPotential employers scan resumes quickly, looking for the core skills and requirements of the vacancy they are filling. Your resume must show that you tick all the boxes if you want an interview.A good exercise to practise is to read the job description you’re applying for, make a list of the keywords, and then to work these into your resume.Many employers are now scanning resumes electronically to make sure the keywords are included before human eyes even look at them.Unexplained gapsUnexplained gaps will leave the employer wondering why they’re there, and why they’re unaccounted for. Explaining the gaps avoids this.Show employers that you have been pro-active between jobs, maybe you’ve been studying or working on a personal project. If you’ve been traveling or you’ve been sick, there’s no need to hide this. If it’s your first job this can be difficult and it’s essential that you know how to  write an entry-level resume.Telling liesThere is a huge difference between tailoring your resume to fit a job and making things up. Highlight your strengths but don’t lie. Employers will check the facts on your resume, these days it is not difficult to cross-check information.If you get caught, you will not get the job and you’ll be ruled out of getting any future positions in the company. Even if you manage to get the job, you will probably struggle to meet the expectations you have set, and you’ll have to worry about that each day.You may also get caught after you’ve started and lose your job as a result. The truth is that there is no need to lie if you know how to write an effective professional resume.