15 things you are doing wrong with your resume
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Your resume must be your best marketing material, considering it is the only thing a potential employer sees about you in the job hunt. If you have been applying for a dozen jobs without hearing back from any employer, the chances are that your resume is letting you down. Creating a compelling resume that checks all the boxes is no easy feat. However, knowing what not to do when writing a resume will help.
- Having bad spelling and grammar on your resume. Sending a resume with a bunch of spelling and grammar mistakes for a job application is like screaming, âI donât pay attention to detail!â in the employerâs ear.
- Not using the right resume format for you. If you are an experienced professional, you can go for a chronological or functional resume. If you are new to the world of work, a combination resume format is your safest choice.
- Listing unexplained employment gaps on your resume. It is totally normal to have a career gap in your life. However, you must provide a brief explanation for the gap in your resume.
- Giving less importance to achievements on your resume. If your resume has a five-to-one ratio of job duties to achievements, it will not get you noticed by the right employer. A good resume always focuses on the accomplishments of the job seeker.
- Not using a tailored resume for job applications. You must always customize your resume for each job application you make.
- Formatting your resume poorly. Use bulleted text instead of paragraphs and ample white space on your resume to ensure that it can be scanned easily by an employer.
- Not adding your social media to the resume. The contact information section of your resume must contain links to related social media accounts where you have shared content related to the job.
- Not adding a hobbies and interests section for your resume. Additional resume sections such as a hobbies and interests section can help you emphasize job-related skills that are otherwise not apparent on your resume.
- Failing to add numbers to your resume. Your achievements are less impressive if you have not backed them up with results. Use numbers, percentages, and other metrics to show how impressive you are at what you do.
- Submitting a resume that is too long. If your resume exceeds even the third page, then you have a problem. A resume must be a concise document that is tailored for a particular job.
- Adding references to the resume. Your professional references belong in a separate document that must be submitted to the employer if requested at a later stage of the hiring process.
- Making mistakes with your contact information. If you have spelled a digit of your phone number or email address wrong on your resume, you may never hear from the hiring manager.
- Using clichés on your resume. These are the phrases that are repeated on nine out of ten resumes. If you must state an obvious fact on your resume, back it up with data.
- Using an unprofessional email address. If you have listed something like [email protected] as your email on your resume, there is a high chance that the employer will not be impressed. Use a professional email address for your resume.
- Exaggerating the truth on your resume. Did you know that over 55% of Americans lie on their resumes? Donât become part of the statistics by stretching the truth on your resume.
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