Resume Mistakes That Can Cost You the Job

By Vivian El-Salawy on June 7, 2018

Most people construct their first resume in high school, whether as part of a class or for their first job. Some colleges require an academic resume – which includes academic accomplishments, as well as experiences in volunteering and extracurriculars. However, few college students consistently update and maintain their resumes with time. Re-polishing your resume is something that you should look into doing every other week. Even if you’ve been involved with the same activities, perhaps you took on some new leadership roles, changed your major, or simply learned some new skills at your job. It is important to keep track of this and display it in the best way possible for your future employers. Having said that, here are some resume mistakes that can cost you the job:

Cramming too much information

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As much as you want to include all of your experiences and skills on your resume, this can dangerously lead to you cramming too much information on this document. Although it varies depending upon the field, generally speaking, a resume should not exceed more than one page. Sometimes, this means playing with margins and re-phrasing certain statements, however one page is a comfortable limit. Your resume should give enough information about you and your relevant experience and skills and allow you to have so much more to explain in an in-person or phone interview. If everything you need to know about yourself is on that one page, then how are you able to expand on it? In addition, employers go through so many applications on a daily basis, sometimes even hundreds, that it is unlikely for them to even give your resume more than a second of their time if they see that it is a length essay. Keeping it nice and concise, yet informative, is key.

Only providing job descriptions

It is important to include what your job titles and descriptions, but do not limit your resume to that alone. Include what you contributed to your work environment. What did you help accomplish at your previous work places, or even through volunteering opportunities? What is it that you were able to give them? In return, what was it that you were able to take away from these experiences? Keep it simple, but dig a little deeper than just what your responsibility was. Sometimes even the most boring tasks may have made all the difference for the organization that your time was contributed to.

Lacking personality

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Sometimes, this can be done with the design of your resume. Depending upon your field and what jobs you are applying to, your resume doesn’t have to be just black and white. Add some color (but don’t go wild). Even the formatting and organization of the information on the page can say a great deal about a person. Think about how many resumes employers look at in a single day – you want yours to stand out, and you want it to express yourself.  Another way that you can show off your personality often times is through adding a skills section. Do you have any special skills that may differentiate you from another candidate? This can be anything from being able to read music to speaking a different language, or even useful hobbies that may be relevant or can contribute to the job. For instance, if you are looking to work for a business, but are a phenomenal photographer, they may be able to utilize you in a way where you will be able to express yourself through your passion of photography. Sometimes, people who speak more than one language are able to travel the world through their work. Never sell yourself short.

Forgetting about volunteer opportunities 

Whether you are applying for a job in retail or the food industry, or shooting for a career-defining opportunity, never forget to include any volunteer experience you may have had. Taking the time out of your day to volunteer yourself for something or someone says a great deal about your dedication to others, and the emphasis on community engagement is huge, regardless of what area you are going into. Perhaps this gave you the opportunity to work better with new people, pick up new skills, or just go out and help the people around you. Either way, it is a great thing to share with others. At the very least, it may just encourage them.

Lacking identity

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Labels can be restricting, but in this case, they can also help establish you. Give yourself a title, and if you can’t narrow it down to one, then that is completely okay. Giving yourself multiple titles is acceptable. Employers want to know what your specialty is, regardless of your experience or your degree. Do you identify as an electrician? Do you identify as a cook, or a writer, or a photographer? Perhaps you identify with multiple specialties, and that’s even better.

Missing contact information

This sounds simple, but you would be surprised by how many people forget to include this simple thing on their resume. You may not know the preferred method of contact for your employer, so be sure to include your permanent (or best) address for mail, your phone number, and an e-mail. In addition to that, be sure to check these regularly. Many applicants receive a response but lose the opportunity due to their lack of timeliness. If you are not able to communicate well with a potential employer, there is a high chance that said individual will no longer be a potential employer for you.

Issues with illegibility

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Sometimes, in attempt to squeeze everything into one page, your resume can become illegible. The font becomes too small, or too smushed and it loses its organization. Make sure that your resume is easy to follow and easy to read. Have clear dividers between various sections, such as a section for education, previous employment history, volunteer/leadership experiences, skills, and references. These sections may vary depending upon your desired field.

All in all, these are a few of the commonly made mistakes when it comes to building and updating resumes. It is important to put a great deal of care and time into this document, as it can differentiate you from the hundreds of applicants whose resumes are stacked between yours.

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