fbpx

Top 6 Resume Mistakes You Need To Avoid To Make A Good Resume

resume mistakes to avoidIf you want to write a good resume, and land a good job, you need to avoid these top resume mistakes.

The job market is so competitive right now. If you’re going to land that dream job, you need to make sure that you set yourself apart in your application. Writing the perfect resume that sums up all of your skills and achievements is difficult. Sometimes you don’t always get it right. But when you’re going up against loads of other candidates, small mistakes can make a lot of difference.

Employers are looking for ways to thin the pile so they can shortlist people for interviews.

Even a couple of basic errors can really work against you. You only get one shot.

You don’t want to lose out on getting an interview because of a mistake on your resume. It’s important that you know what the common pitfalls are and how to get around them.

The top 6 biggest resume mistakes that people make

1. Spelling And Grammar Mistakes

Before you start sending out your resume, it’s important that you proofread it properly and double check for any spelling and grammar mistakes.

You might not think that it’s a big deal – but it sends the wrong message.

The employer is going to assume that somebody that has so many resume mistakes is going to be careless in their everyday life. Especially when they are at work.

It doesn’t take that long to read through your resume and make sure that there are no mistakes. So make sure that you do. It doesn’t take that long to read through your resume and make sure that there are no mistakes. So make sure that you do. Check this guide on how to write a CV in English for non-native speakers for tips and ideas on how to do so. After all, even if the rest of your CV is amazing, a couple of spelling mistakes might convince an employer to throw it straight in the bin. 

2. Bad Layout Mistakes

The layout of your CV is very important. You need to make things easy for the person that is reading it. They don’t want to read through 5 pages of heavy text. You need to point them towards all of the relevant information. And they need to be able to scan through it quickly.

When they have a big pile to get through, they will be turned off by any that take them longer than a few minutes to read. You can get plenty of great free templates online that you should use when you are writing your CV.

If you use a good template, you can make sure that the layout is simple, not too cluttered, and quick to scan. It’s not a good idea to create your own layout because it may backfire on you. 

3. The Mistake of Focusing Too Much On Duties

When you are writing a CV, you’re trying to show the employer what makes you qualified for the job. Your experience is a big part of that. Hence it’s a good idea to outline what your duties at current and previous jobs. However, you don’t need to focus on that too much –  because that isn’t the thing that will impress people.

What you need to really focus on are your achievements while you were working in these jobs. Plus the important skills that make you an asset. These things are far more important than a long list of your daily duties.

Unfortunately many people make the mistake of forgetting to sell themselves. They just give a boring description of their job that sends the reader to sleep.

If you want to get more interviews, make sure that you are highlighting the things that made you an exceptional asset at your previous jobs. 

4. The Mistake Of Using Cliches

good resume needs to stand out

Employers read so many CV’s that are jam packed with cliches and buzzwords that they can see straight through the hype. Think about it. They’ve read thousands of personal bios where people describe themselves as a team player or a good communicator. It’s not going to impress them.  If you are using all of these cliches throughout your CV, it will just come across as lazy.

Don’t fall into the trap of using lots of jargon. Try to come up with something highly original. Instead of just saying that you’re a great team player, give specific examples of your achievements in past jobs. Basically, you should be demonstrating your skills rather than just claiming them. 

5. The Mistake of Not Tailoring It To The Job

Employers want to see that you are excited about the position and you have taken some time to research it. If you are sending out blanket emails with your resume to anybody that is hiring, they’re going to be able to tell.

When you send out generic resumes, they really stick out. It shows that you haven’t put that much effort into your application and they won’t be impressed by it.

You also risk wasting space on the resume with things that are not relevant to the specific job you’re seeking. Plus you’ll miss out on the things that are important. That’s why it’s so important that you tailor your CV to each specific job when you apply.

Look through the job listing and identify all of the different skills that they ask for and the things that they want to see. If you make sure that you hit all of these points in your resume, you will have a much better chance of impressing the company.

6. Lying Mistakes

resume mistake lying on reumse

People always say that everybody bends the truth on their resume and it’s fine – as long as you don’t get caught out. But it’s really not worth it a lot of the time because you are likely to get caught.

If you exaggerate your experience or lie about having qualifications that you don’t have, what are you going to do when you get to the interview and they start asking you about it? Most likely you will get tripped up by lots of questions and the interview will go terribly.

An employer would rather hire somebody that is a little under qualified but willing to learn – than somebody who lies about having all of the experience that they need. 

The Right Resume Can Jumpstart A Career

Finding the perfect job opportunity is a lot easier when you have a good resume. So, you might want to hook yourself up with a simple to use online resume builder like Resumist.com. You only need to make a few simple clicks, edit your details with minimal effort, and get stellar results. Then simply post a nice polished resume on recruitment portals or apply to top companies – the choice is yours. Just be sure that you avoid the common resume mistakes – above! If you do, then you will be more likely to land your dream job quickly. Wishing you the best of luck and much success!

Be Calm and Confident at Job Interviews

Develop the superpower of calm with my bestseller Instant Calm

Got 2 minutes? Try these simple 2 minute relaxing meditations – so you show up at your strongest and best at job interviews.

Think happier. Think calmer.

Think about subscribing for free weekly tools here.

No SPAM, ever! Read the Privacy Policy for more information.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This