Don’t make these 7 common resume mistakes

You’re searching for a job and applying to openings, but you’re not hearing back from hiring managers. You may think it’s bad luck that the interview processes aren’t moving forward, but it could be your resume that’s holding you back.

Here are seven common mistakes you might be making on your resume and why they could negatively affect your job search.

1. References

References are an important part of the hiring process. They’re previous or current colleagues who can vouch for you and confirm you are who you say you are. Typically, employers will ask for this information further in the interview process. Still, some people include their references’ contact information on their resume to beat employers to the punch. Even though it sounds great in theory, it’s not a good idea.

First, you’re wasting valuable space on your resume that could be used to further highlight why you’re right for the role. Secondly, an employer could call these references without warning, leading to potentially awkward situations.

Rule of thumb: wait until an employer asks for references before providing them. It gives you time to let your references know they might be expecting a call from a potential employer.

2. Don’t be creative

Everyone wants their resume to stand out from other applicants. You may want to make your resume more unique and include fun colors that show your personality. Although it might be more interesting, you risk your resume getting tossed to the side and losing your chance of finding that job you’ve been searching for.

To increase the chances of your resume being reviewed by a hiring manager, keep it simple. Avoid using colors, graphs, or images in your resume. If creativity is part of the role your searching for, include those types of items in your portfolio. You want to keep your resume in plain text so applicant tracking systems (ATS) can read it.

3. Unnecessary details

It’s normal to want to include any and all information on your resume. Although you might think that more is better, it may be irrelevant to the hiring manager. Having a resume with too much information can prevent the hiring manager from seeing that you have the skills needed to be considered for the job.

Additionally, including information like your college graduation year might lead to some employers assuming your age and prejudice you against other candidates. Also, refrain from adding unnecessary information such as your hobbies or home address.

4. Don’t include expired certificates

Listing certificates you’ve obtained is always good to include in your resume. They prove that you stay up to date on best practices within your industry and are an indicator to hiring managers that you’re qualified. What’s the harm with including expired certificates? Hiring managers may see it as unnecessary since they’re expired, and this can lead to questions about why you haven’t gotten re-certified.

It’s pretty easy to avoid this resume mistake. Either remove these expired certifications or recertify so you’re current.

5. Don’t repeat action verbs

The main goal of your resume is to show hiring managers your experience and how you’ve used your skillset in previous positions. The most popular way to convey your skills is through the action verbs you include on your resume. In the moment, it may seem easier to repeat words because it relates to your experience, however this isn’t considered a best practice. Find synonyms for words you’re using that are stronger than those you’re repeating throughout your resume.

This will help keep the hiring manager engaged when reading your resume.   

6. Don’t make it too long

Resumes are all about showcasing your experience. You may feel the urge to include every detail from each job that you’ve had to show hiring managers that you’re a good fit for the position you’re applying for. However, by doing this you risk your resume being too long and potentially overlooked by the hiring team.

Generally, you should use one page to showcase your experience. The only time your resume should be two pages is if you have more than 10 years of experience in relevant fields or are looking to move up to a leadership position.

7. Avoid grammatical errors

Tailoring your resume for each role should be your standard practice when you’re on the job hunt. If you’re applying for multiple jobs each day, sometimes mistakes on your resume can slip by when you submit it. Unfortunately, even simple mistakes can prevent you from moving forward in the interview process – especially if you have a grammatical error. Grammatical errors can indicate to a hiring manager that you don’t pay attention to the little details.

To avoid small mistakes costing you a chance at a new job, thoroughly review your resume for any grammatical errors. We recommend reviewing them two to three times before submitting to ensure everything is spelled correctly and that you have proper punctuation throughout.

Perfecting your resume is only part of preparing for the search

Making sure you avoid these common resume mistakes is a step in the right direction when preparing your job search. Your resume can be your golden ticket to opening the door for an interview. Now, imagine you have a partner to connect you to jobs that match your career goals?

Addison Group understands what it takes to find a new role. We also know that finding a company that matches your goals and appreciates everything you bring to the table makes all the difference. So don’t settle for what’s there, let us find you the job that fits. Visit our jobs page or reach out to us today to find a job right for you.