You’ve probably put together a few resumes during your career, but did you know that means you’ve probably also included one of these top errors as well?
Review your resume to check for these mistakes and stand out from your competition:
Repetitive Language
A surefire way to have a boring resume is to use the same words over and over. An easy place to check for this mistake is at the beginning of each of your bullet points. If you scan down your resume and see the same verbs again and again, replace a few with some alternate verbs. If you are having trouble thinking of the right word, use an online thesaurus or check out this great list of verbs. Switching up your word choice will help make your resume more interesting and will help convey that you have great writing skills.
Too Vague
If you don’t get down to the details of what you accomplished in a job, someone could read your resume and not be able to tell exactly what you did. Look your resume over and see if you can find any areas where you might need to fill in the gaps. Try to imagine what it would be like for someone who doesn’t know you or your history to read your resume. If you have anyone help proofread your resume, ask them to be on the lookout for this error as it can be easier for other people to find.
Jargon
If you are changing fields or transitioning from military to civilian life, be sure to scan your resume for words and acronyms that might not be widely known. Even if you aren’t making a big change, some companies use terminology that isn’t shared throughout their industry.
Clichés and Templates
Beware using phrases you find in a template or using something that might come off as cliché. Take your resume as an opportunity to set yourself apart from other candidates and use the most descriptive language that describes why you are the best fit for the job.
Inconsistent Formatting
The best thing you can do in a resume to make it appear clean and organized is to be consistent with your formatting choices. The biggest problem areas can be: periods at the end of bullet points, spacing around dashes, dates, abbreviations, bullet point and font sizes. Whatever you choose for each of these areas, make sure to use it every time and your resume will look more professional.
No Numbers
Every job has something you can quantify. So figure out what numbers you can share, whether it is number of people you managed, the size of the company, or the amount of time you saved on a project. Numbers help people understand the scope or scale of the work you have done and in some cases can be the best way to illustrate your results.
Length
There is no perfect length of resume, but work to make sure you include everything an employer needs to know. Make sure to include:
- Relevant work experience
- Education
- Professional affiliations
- Any awards or recognition you’ve received
They key here is to make sure you share what is relevant to the position you are applying to. If the last three positions you’ve had cover the skills and experience necessary for the position, there isn’t any need to go back further and create a lengthy resume.
For a quick resume makeover, pick one or two of these common mistakes and make the necessary edits. You’ll have a more professional resume without taking a lot of time away from your search.