If you’re searching for a new job, you’ve likely taken some time to update your resume so it positively reflects you as a candidate. However, even job seekers with the best intentions often make some very common mistakes when writing their resumes. Before applying to any job, it’s imperative you give your resume significant focus and attention.
As you’re reviewing your resume and making changes, here are five mistakes to correct immediately.
1. Including Too Much Information
When updating your employment section, it’s easy to go overboard with providing too much information under your past job descriptions. Remember, it’s not necessary to tell readers every single aspect of your previous jobs. You should stay concise and narrow each description to core responsibilities and tasks you had in each role, while highlighting your individual accomplishments. Typically, the best way to format this section is by using bullets and short paragraphs for easy readability.
2. Failing to Quantify Accomplishments
Rather than simply stating your experience, it’s most impactful to describe exactly what you’ve achieved through data and metrics. Numbers like people managed or trained, sales figures or quotas met, tend to be more powerful than self-congratulatory words or phrases. Whenever possible, it’s best to quantify your accomplishments in these terms.
3. Not Including Keywords
In general, your resume should always include keywords and phrases related to the jobs for which you’re applying. It’s important you review the job descriptions and tailor your resume in a way that reflects what the job is asking for and how your education and experience make you qualified for it. You should then incorporate keywords into your “skills” and “experience” sections to align your resume with the job itself.
4. Not Removing Outdated Information
Having information on your resume from over 10 or 20 years ago – especially if it pertains to irrelevant jobs – will make you look out-of-date and unqualified as a candidate. Be sure your experience and skills sections are updated to demonstrate what makes you qualified. It’s especially important your most-relevant skills are up to date with current trends.
5. Grammatical Errors
While you may believe your resume is free of errors, you may have missed some very common grammatical mistakes, such as incorrect verb tense, poor formatting or careless spelling mistakes. Even if you’ve reviewed your resume several times for errors, it’s recommended you have a trusted friend or colleague review it as well.
Keep Your Resume Interview-Ready
Chances are you’re making at least one of the resume errors above. Keeping these common mistakes in mind, take time to closely review your resume and make the adjustments necessary before applying. If your resume is ready to take to the job market, contact the helpful and knowledgable team at On Time Staffing today to get started with your job search.
