Having a great resume is essential for landing a lucrative job. It helps a potential employer to gauge if you qualify for a needed role. The modern job market is competitive and uncertain. This is the time to pay close attention to details when applying for a job position. And one way to do this is to take your time in polishing your resume. A compelling resume highlights every detail needed, including your strengths and goals.
Today, many people make different mistakes while preparing their resumes. Knowing them and avoiding these common mistakes will help you stand out. You’ll be able to come up with an incredible document that will be appealing to HR managers.
This guide shows you the common errors job hunters make, and how to avoid them. The competition is high out there. Having a top-notch resume will always make you stand out.
Top 5 Errors in Resumes
There are several common mistakes people make when preparing their resumes. Below are five of them, and how to avoid them.
Irrelevant work experience
It’s important to only include relevant work experience and skills when writing your resume. They should specifically relate to the position you want to apply for.
Also, make sure that you add your achievements to your work experience. You want to let the hiring managers see the values you will contribute to their company.
By all means, refrain from including unrelated past work experience. Although you can list the achievements and skills that will be useful to your potential new job. Ignore those responsibilities you had.
Here is an example. If the position of customer service is what you intend to apply for but you had experience as a cashier. Only highlight how you effectively communicated with and assisted customers. Don’t list every detail of how a register is run.
Errors in the contact information
This is another common mistake. Including the right contact information is important when preparing a compelling resume. Don’t miss vital details. Don’t also add unnecessary contact details.
Add the following at the top of your resume. Your name should be big and bold. Your current address. Also, don’t forget to add your phone number and email address, for prompt contact.
You may also include your website address or a link to your portfolio. These are key contact information that most companies need. All other information can be a waste of space.
Grammar and spelling mistakes
You need to write like a professional if you desire to bag a professional job. Pay close attention to your use of grammar. The spellings also need to be cross-checked. These little things people take for the granted count. A resume that’s free from spelling and grammatical errors will always stand out anytime, any day.
Do you know that grammar and spelling indicate two sets of skills that are crucial in every job? Yes, they show effective communication and the ability to pay attention to details. A hiring manager can easily tell if you are a good communicator and a diligent person by these alone. These skills are vital in companies, especially when relating to customers, supervisors, and co-workers.
Avoid missing words. Always reread your resume more than three times. Correct all missing words when spotted. If you can, also ask a friend to go through your resume before you submit it.
Again, don’t write about your previous jobs in the present tense. Only talk about your current job in the present tense. Your older jobs should be written in the past tense.
Use of clichés
The key goal of writing a resume is to be able to convince hiring managers that you are well qualified for the position their companies need. Recruiters are always looking for assets, remember?
However, you shouldn’t add too many buzzwords to your resume. Doing so will be it look unoriginal. This won’t help your resume stand out.
Avoid overusing common resume buzzwords such as ambitious, proactive, hardworking, flexible, team player, go-getter, enthusiastic, result-driven, exceptional, and self-starter.
Adding photos
To create an incredible resume that stands out, don’t add a photo to it. For instance, it’s not often recommended for job seekers in the United States to include photos in their resumes. A picture simply makes your resume look unprofessional.
You don’t want your application to be automatically rejected because of a photo in it. The only exception to this is when the company you are applying to requires you to add a photo. Be on the safe side by avoiding putting photos in your resume.
Conclusion
Writing a good resume will make you stand out in the job market. You will do better if you also avoid these common errors made while preparing a resume. Pay special attention to your spelling and grammar. Don’t also forget to always include the right contact information. Finally, reach out to this website to learn how to write a good resume.