Resume Writing

10 resume writing mistakes to avoid

10 resume writing mistakes to avoid

Avoid having your resume getting tossed into the rejection pile with this handy checklist

#1: Having a "me" centric objective statement

Does your objective statement sound like this?
"Hardworking and passionate individual seeking learning opportunity to obtain knowledge about the human resources industry and share her skills of the profession obtained in college"
Employers do not care about why you want the job; they care about why you are the right person for the job.

#2: Including a "fluffy" profile statement/summary statement

There is nothing worse than general "consulting speak". What does "Multi-faceted and resourceful business professional with natural leadership skills" tell us? Employers want to know what makes you multi-faceted, what makes you resourceful, and what makes you a leader. Unqualified statements are worth nothing in this high stakes game.

#3: Describing your responsibilities and duties

Responsibilities and duties are those expected for the position. If two applicants did their job as prescribed but one applicant exceeded and accomplished above the norm, who do you think the employer will choose? Highlighting the results of your work help make you stand out from the crowd. It helps to convince the hiring manager that you are an individual that can move the company forward. It helps warrant an interview!

#4: Including personal information

As a general rule of thumb, do not include your height, race, ethnicity, age, eye color, weight, etc. Also omit personal hobbies. Not only can it get you into trouble (you may love hunting by your Vegetarian boss probably doesn't), it also takes up valuable real estate on your resume. Exception: Hobbies and interests that may be relevant to the job position or those that you take very seriously (if you are a part time weight lifting champion, that's notable and special. It tells volumes about your drive, dedication, and discipline).

#5: Using "eye-popping" design

Ostentatious colors, fonts, borders, dividers, and images are never a good idea. Some people think that a flashy resume helps their chances, but that is far from the truth. Consistent, clean and focused resumes are much more effective. Use Arial, Calibrini, or Times New Roman font, font size 11 or 12, use wide margins, adequate white space, and straight lines.

#6: Placing bullet points in order of occurrence, not impact

The order in which your bullet points appear on your resume is more important than you think. Studies have shown that people tend to read the first and last sentence of a paragraph. The same is true for the hiring manager reading your resume. Are you placing your most important bullet points where they would make the most impact?

#7: Placing education at the top of the resume if you are NOT a recent graduate

For entry level individuals (fresh out of college or career school), recent graduate students, or those in Academia, it is appropriate to place Education at the top of the resume. If you are, however, not a recent graduate then you should place your Education towards the bottom of your resume.

#8: Including dates that could "time stamp" you

Dates to omit include date of birth and year of college graduation. Of course, it is not always advised to omit year of college graduation, especially if the job position asks for a certain experience level (and you qualify!). For example, if you graduated 4 years ago and the job position asks for 3-5 years of experience, it helps to place the year you graduated college.

#9: More than two pages

For executives and individuals with 10+ years of experience, a two page resume may be appropriate. Any longer and you are probably including too much information from your previous work experience. Remember, employers don't need to know everything you've done. They just need to see a upwards trend and progression in your career, resulting in the skills and attributes that make you a viable candidate for employment.

#10: Using personal pronouns (such as I, me or my)

Resume writing is a form of business writing and as such, forbids the use of personal pronouns. Don't use personal pronouns!