Have you ever experienced applying for multiple jobs like crazy and still not getting any interviews? and you will start to think about what the problem is. You might have to review the one and only resume you’ve been using for all of your job applications, which can also be a factor in not getting you hired. Guilty and surprised? Don’t worry. Now that you are reading this article, you will have a better idea of how to write and revise your resume effectively.
Here are the seven (7) common resume mistakes and how to avoid them.
1. Including unrelated work experience
Although having a lot of work experience is a plus, as it will reflect how capable you are as an employee, you should also be mindful of the jobs that you include on your list. For instance, if you’re applying for a customer service role, you don’t have to include your past work experience as a transcriptionist. Instead, write about your work experience that is related to the job you’re applying to. Your work experience should reveal the skills and accomplishments that will make the hiring manager consider your resume.
2. Listing irrelevant skills
As you want to impress the hiring manager with how skilled you are, you should avoid listing skills that are unrelated to the job’s responsibilities. Doing so will give a negative impression to the recruiter. You should only emphasize skills that are directly applicable to the role.
3. Formatting and grammatical mistakes
It is important to check your resume not just twice but multiple times to avoid grammatical and formatting errors before submitting. Make sure that your resume has no spelling or punctuation mistakes, especially if one of your listed skills is proofreading. Also consider using minimalist fonts to make your resume look neat and clean, and avoid coloring the fonts.
4. Using outdated contact information and unprofessional email address
On your resume, always include your current and correct contact information. It’s possible you didn’t receive an interview invitation because it was sent to the email address and contact information you recently changed. It is also critical to use a professional email address that includes your name and appropriate words. This can help your resume appear more professional and formal.
5. Putting no or too many reference
Professional references on your resume can help your work experience appear more credible. Please provide two or three references, as this is the appropriate number. Avoid making the statement that you will provide them upon request because it will seem repetitive to a hiring manager. Also, avoid using relatives and friends as professional references and only provide those with whom you have previously worked.
6. Listing personal details
Personal information such as nationality, date of birth, place of birth, spiritual beliefs, civil status, height, weight, or sexual orientation should not be included on your resume. That isn’t necessary. Only provide information that is relevant to the job you are applying for.
7. Attaching your photo
This may surprise you because most resume templates in various resume-creation software include applicant photos, but this is actually unnecessary. Some industries or roles, such as modeling and acting, may accept that appearance is important. However, you can now avoid attaching your photo to your resume because some employers are avoiding being distracted by the applicant’s appearance and avoiding the risk of being interpreted as giving unequal treatment based on appearance.
When applying for a job, a resume is an essential document, so make it look professional. Resume errors are easily corrected, but always scan it multiple times. After reading this article, you can now modify and write your resume to make it more effective.
