20 THINGS YOU SHOULD AVOID IN A RESUME
A resume is the most important document you will ever write. Whether you know it or not, your resume is your first marketing tool and an integral part of "getting past the gatekeeper". Your resume should be clear and concise - no more than two pages in length. It should also be grammatically correct (in terms of spelling and punctuation) and include all of your accomplishments, including volunteer experience. (Volunteer experience is just as necessary as paid work experience!)
Your resume will sell you to the employer. It's tempting to "oversell" yourself by including every job duty/skill that you could have possibly performed, but this does not impress; it confuses the reader and demonstrates a lack of confidence in what you have accomplished. Be honest about your capabilities, emphasising how a skill will benefit an employer versus listing it because it sounds good on paper or makes you appear well-rounded.
The points below are some common pitfalls seen on resumes:
1) Typos - This is easily the number one thing employers notice! The most qualified person can be eliminated from consideration in an instant if the resume has typos.
2) Overloading your resume - Each resume should only include work experience or skills relevant to the job you are applying for. If the information is not suitable, leave it off! For example, if you have a bachelor's degree in chemistry, but none of your experience or education relates to chemistry (because you went on to other fields), do not include it. Leave off high school awards/awards received during high school; they will not impress a potential employer and may even be perceived as a distraction. Be selective with this vital marketing tool!
3) Always make sure the Company name and city are correct! Resumes with incorrect company names can be eliminated from consideration.
4) Always check your references for accuracy - including correct job titles/names, locations, contact information and phone numbers. Suppose you include a reference on your resume but do not list the person's name or contact information on your resume (or application). In that case, it is inappropriate to refer to this person as a "reference" in an interview.
5) Including hobbies and clubs that have nothing to do with why someone would be interested in hiring you. Do not list activities unrelated to work experience (unless they show insight into soft skills).
6) Inappropriate wardrobe - wear something appropriate for the position you are interviewing for (i.e., no tank tops, shorts, etc.). Also, make sure that what you wear isn't distracting.
7) Your picture - if an employer wishes to see your photo, they will ask for it. Do not include an image on your resume unless specifically requested to do so! Also, make sure that the picture is professional quality, taken recently (within the last 6 months), and appropriate for the position you are applying for.
8) Inappropriate information - such as references attesting to your character or behaviour (age, sex, religion, etc.). This can be very inappropriate in certain cultures/countries (i.e., India).
9) Lack of consistency in formatting and fonts between various items on your resume: consider using either Times New Roman or Arial font with 12 point type size and list dates with the Month-Day-Year convention.
10) Failed to proofread - This is critical! It has been estimated that up to 80% of resumes have one or more errors, including spelling mistakes and typos. If your resume is not correctly proofed, you can be eliminated from consideration for a job without being considered for an interview.
11) No objective/career summary - A career summary shows that you understand the position requirements and how your background fits those needs. It should contain two or three sentences about who you are, what you've accomplished in your career thus far, and what type of employer might be interested in hiring you; it CANNOT include personal information such as age or marital status.
12) Include ALL relevant job experience/education in your resume - Don't include jobs or experiences that aren't related to the position for which you are applying! You may be missing out on a lot of work by simply listing only those positions you want the employer to see.
13) Using job titles instead of actual functions performed (i.e., "Marketing Manager" versus "Developed Sales, Distribution Channels and Media Plans") is giving employers too much information about what you did and can lead them to question whether any other candidate knows how to do this, too. The best approach is to use functional job descriptions to help the employer understand why they should hire you over other candidates for the same position.
14) Objective statements - these are not effective resumes and can be eliminated quickly by an employer who may think you have no clear direction for your career or goals. If you do decide to use a "Career Objective" section of your resume, it should follow the format of the following:
A Career Objective tells a potential employer what position you are seeking...but does NOT tell them why they should hire you! It must focus on skills and accomplishments that illustrate how you will add value as an employee in their organisation, and avoid words/phrases such as "I want" or "Looking forward to...".
Not all objectives work effectively on resumes; write yours in terms of skills like this example:
"To obtain a position where my dedication, ability to communicate effectively and organise project activities with minimal supervision will contribute to the company's growth. In addition, continued development of skills in time management, prioritising tasks, and strong organisation skills are key factors for success."
15) Including irrelevant information - such as height, weight, age (unless you're over 55 or under 18), marital status (unless directly related to the job for which you are applying). It is also NOT necessary to include your citizenship information etc. if you ARE a citizen. If you have questions regarding this issue, contact an immigration attorney who specialises in work visas..
16) Your unprofessional email address - Avoid including your unprofessional email on your resume; employers use databases to find candidates and are linked to your email address which everyone can access.
17) Listing only e-mail address or telephone number - If you are applying for a job that is located in another state or country, the employer may want to know where you live at present. It is best to include your home address unless it is a secret location for security reasons.
18) Including Social Security Number (SSN) - Never place this information on your resume; if requested by an employer, say you prefer not to provide them with this personal information. You should also avoid placing this number on any forms used by potential employers when initiating contact with them regarding employment opportunities; instead, use alternate identifying numbers such as your driver's license number.
19) Don't pad your resume with unnecessary skills - Example: In the job advertisement, the employer mentions that they're seeking a candidate who has "Microsoft Office" experience; in response, you list every software program ever created for Microsoft Office basic features. If you do this, it will appear as if you are desperate to fill space on your resume with irrelevant information or don't know how to write an effective resume. Your potential employers are smart enough to ask relevant questions that will undoubtedly follow their research/job description requests!
20) It's okay NOT to use reverse chronological (most recent position first) order - It is best to start your resume with vital information. Think of yourself as the employer, and you're looking for a candidate to hire. Which sections on your resume would be of most interest IN THE BEGINNING? The chronological order that many people choose is not always the best choice for everyone; it's essential to know what will quickly draw potential employers' attention!
Final Thoughts
Employers spend an average of 6 seconds deciding whether they will read your resume; are you confident that yours has the potential to keep their attention? If not, have someone who can offer constructive criticism take a look at it. Resumes must be effective, or no one will ever know what you're capable of!
Please share this article with others if you find it helpful - Thank You! Our goal is to help as many people as possible achieve success in this industry and present themselves well for employment opportunities. We would love to hear your comments below..
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