Mistakes to Avoid While Crafting a Perfect Resume
Job seekers, beware!
Maybe you’ve been applying to jobs like crazy, but it seems as though all of your applications have disappeared into the black hole of the Internet. Wondering why your resume isn’t getting you any interviews? We’re willing to bet it’s not because you’re unqualified or just not good enough (which, for the record, you are good enough). It’s likely because resume mistakes are causing one or more fatal errors.
Even if you’re a qualified candidate, one seemingly small resume mistake could mean the difference between a job-landing interview and a missed opportunity. It’s deceptively easy to make mistakes on your resume and exceptionally difficult to repair the damage once an employer gets it. So prevention is critical, especially if you’ve never written one before. Here are the most common pitfalls and how you can avoid them.
Resumes, after all, are your first chance to show a company what a perfect fit you are for a position — but if done incorrectly, they could also be your last. That’s why it’s absolutely critical to get them right the first time. Otherwise, all the time you spend filling out applications is essentially for naught.
If you want your job application to make it past the gatekeepers and into the hiring manager’s hands, avoid these cringe-worthy resume-writing mistakes:
- Spelling and grammatical errors: It sounds childlike but the use of correct grammar and correct spellings leave the recruiter impressed at once. And the other way, it can ruin the impression in a sec. So it is always suggested to have the spellings and grammar checked before you finalize your resume.
2. Incorrect or missing contact information: You want the recruiter to contact you for the further process. Aren’t you? And for that, the correct and updated contact information must be included in the resume. The consequences of providing incorrect contact information can be vital.
3. Not using relevant keywords: Today, Artificial Intelligence is taking over the resume screening process from humans and helping the recruiters with great time-saving outputs. All the ATS tracking systems filter the candidates based on the keywords and if your resume lacks them, no matter how good your profile is, it won’t be noticed.
4. Using an unprofessional email address: Thinking of using a cool and casual email id can be dangerous to your professional career. Email id, which looks professional is appreciated everywhere. One should avoid using buzzwords to the email id and try to include the date of birth or simply numbers with the name.
5. Including outdated or irrelevant information: Using outdated or irrelevant information and not updating the information provided in the resume can be very negative for the candidate. One must always use the updated and relevant information to the profile you are applying to.
6. Format and/or design is too old: Gone are the days when the layout of the resume used to be very general. Lots of templates and formats are available to modify the resume according to the industry and the need. One must consider the latest templates and formats while creating a resume.
7. Leaving Out Social Media Links: One of the most important aspects of judging a candidate is through his social media profiles. It’s necessary to put your social presence in the resume to highlight the professional network and the environment you have.
- Irrelevant skills to the job role: Maybe you have 100 skills but only 2 skills are relevant to the profile you are applying. Many people forgot this and include vague skills not related to the profile applied. If the skills are matching to the profile, the chances of selection are always high.
- Going on too long or cutting things too short: One of the common problems with resumes recruiters face is either the resume is too short to understand what the candidate profile is all about or it is too long to understand the specific details as there is ‘n’ number of information included. Thus, putting an appropriate amount of information is appreciable.
- Making claims without measurable evidence: One thing that the majority of people ignore while writing a resume is providing information about things which has evidence and which can be measured. So, it is always advisable to include those points which can be shown with evidence, like certificates, medals, etc.
There are plenty of difficulties one can face while writing a resume, but no matter how careful you are, there’s always a chance you will fail to notice something that can damage your efforts.
Want to avoid those mistakes? Get a free resume evaluation today from the experts at SAC Management India Pvt. Ltd. Resume Writing Service. You’ll get detailed feedback in two business days, including a review of your resume’s appearance and content, and a prediction of a recruiter’s first impression.