5 common resume mistakes to avoid
A good resume can help you make a lasting impression on potential employers when applying for jobs. While drafting a resume, you must highlight your achievements, skills, and other relevant information that sets you apart from the many candidates applying for the same position. At the same time, try to avoid blunders like grammatical errors that could reduce your chances of success. Here are a few resume mistakes to avoid.
Using fancy fonts
A resume is a formal document, so keep it professional. Fancy fonts tell a hiring manager you’re not serious enough about the job. Moreover, they may be hard to read. So, always use standard, formal fonts and ensure all your career highlights are legible.
Using complicated resume formats
Using creative, graphic, or complicated resume formats might increase the risk of rejection. Since you want your resume to be easily read by hiring managers and applicant tracking systems, use simple and easily readable formats.
Adding an “objective” section
The objective of sending your resume is obvious: you’re seeking a role in that organization! Adding a special “objective” section means wasting important real estate space. Instead of stating the obvious, write down a professional summary. It will demonstrate your value proposition to the organization crisply and succinctly.
Listing irrelevant skills
You likely possess numerous skills, but not all will be related to the role you’re applying for. Employers look for specific skills required to perform a job efficiently, which are often mentioned in the job description. So, read the job description carefully and include only the relevant attributes in your resume. Doing so will increase your chances of getting hired.
Adding unrelated work experience
One of the most common resume mistakes to avoid is adding work experience not at all related to the job you want. List down relevant experience only. This way, you’re telling the hiring manager that you have the necessary qualifications to fulfill your responsibilities at work. If you’re switching to another industry, add the experience that focuses on your transferable skills instead of the responsibilities you took up in your previous role.
