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Five Common Mistakes People Make on Their Resume
When it comes to crafting the perfect resume, there are many common mistakes people make. It is important to be aware of these mistakes. By avoiding them, you can increase your chances of getting interviews.
And friendly reminder: if you ever want your resume professionally rewritten, we have a free tool here at EarnBetter that you can use - click here to get started and see the magic for yourself!
One of the most common mistakes people make on their resumes is not tailoring the resume to the job. In other words, they simply send out the same resume for every job they apply to without making any changes. This is a mistake, as each job is different and employers are looking for different skills and qualifications. By tailoring your resume to each job, you’re much more likely to get called in for an interview.
For example, if you’re applying to Customer Service jobs, you’ll want to make sure the Objective or Summary section of your resume highlights (1) your interest in this kind of role and (2) your skills and experience that make you qualified for this kind of role. You’ll also want to make sure to showcase any recent Customer Service jobs at the top of your resume so the hiring manager or recruiter sees this first.
Another mistake people make on their resumes is failing to proofread their work. A resume with typos and grammatical errors looks sloppy and unprofessional, and it will likely end up in the trash. One hiring manager said “if you can’t put together a proper resume to show your experience, that is indicative of problems down the road”. Be sure to take your time when proofreading your resume, or better yet, have someone else look it over for you. You can also use resume optimization tools like the one we've built at Earnbetter to help you create a professional, polished resume - our resume builder is linked here.
Another common mistake people make is listing too much experience on their resume. Employers are typically only interested in your most recent experience, so there’s no need to include every single job you’ve ever had. Stick to listing jobs from the past 10-15 years, and only include jobs that are relevant to the position you’re applying for. Whenever possible, you want to keep your resume to 1-2 pages in length. Many hiring managers have told us that long resumes are a red flag and they typically skip those.
When writing your resume, it’s important to use language that is strong and positive. Avoid using weak or clichéd language such as “responsible for” or “hard worker.” Instead, try to use action-oriented language that will grab the employer’s attention. If possible, use data to back up your experience and your accomplishments.
Finally, another mistake people make on their resumes is including personal information that is irrelevant to the job. Your resume should serve as a highlight reel for your professional accomplishments (not your personal life). Use discretion in what hobbies or interests you include on your resume. Additionally, you should also avoid including information such as your age, gender, or marital status as this could lead to discrimination during the hiring process
In conclusion, creating the perfect resume can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. By avoiding common mistakes, you can increase your chances of getting interviews. So remember these five tips when you’re creating your resume: (1) tailor your resume to the job you’re applying for (2) proofread your resume to remove any typos and grammatical errors (3) don’t list too much experience or any experience that isn’t relevant to the role you’re applying for (4) use strong, action-oriented language and (5) stick to professional information.
For more information on making a resume stand out, check out this blog post.