The Five Biggest Mistakes You Can Make On Your Resume
Are you a member of the constantly growing population of people in desperate need of quality employment? Maybe you already have a job, but feel you are being underutilized and have decided now is the time to make your move to a different company where you will be better appreciated? Then odds are you have a resume, or are at least in the process of working on one. In today's unstable economy, you do not want to miss out on a lucrative position due to a minor discrepancy in your resume. Here is a list of some of the worst mistakes commonly made on resumes. Hopefully, by following this rough guideline, you have a better shot at landing that position you have been searching for:
1. Using Clip Art, Borders, & Other Gimmicks:
Some people are under the assumption that flashy means better. This is not a high school art project, it’s your resume! Employers see right through the pictures and fancy fonts, and get down to the basic information presented in the resume. In some cases employers assume that you are trying to use fancy borders and images to disguise the lack of substance in the actual resume. On the flip side, if you have a stellar resume, the unnecessary flare can distract the employer from what is important.
2. Limiting Yourself To 1 Page:
During our formative years someone beat into our heads that a resume should be limited to one page. While that may have been a good tip in our late teens, and early twenties, odds are if you've spent any amount of time on the workforce accurately describing your work history will take more than one page. Do not let preconceived notions get in the way of a good resume.
3. Neglecting To Use a Cover Letter:
With the advent of job search websites it has become easier than ever to apply for new jobs. A simple click of a few buttons and you can be emailing your resume to dozens of employers. That being said, as it becomes easier and easier to send your resume more people are forgetting to include a cover letter. This is a tip off to employers that you are applying randomly and may not have a serious interest in their position. A few short words can go a long way as far as cover letters are concerned. Do not let this prevent you from getting the job!
4. Applying for jobs you lack the skills for:
Do not waste your time by sending your resume for jobs you know that you lack the skills for. It not only wastes your time but wastes the time of the person who has to read your resume. It could also prevent you from consideration in the event that the company has an opening that you are actually qualified for.
5. Misrepresentation of Skills & Job History:
This is a kind way of saying lying! Do not lie on your resume. You may land the job in the short term but, whether or not you can perform the job at the level that is necessary, it will always linger over your head. It may come back to haunt you in the future. Even great performing employees have been fired for lying on their resume.
