Hiring managers and recruiters see dozens if not hundreds of resumes for each open position. It’s up to you to make your resume stand out – in a good way – and avoid these common resume errors that can quickly consign you to the recycle bin.
Typos and misspellings.
This seems ridiculous, but it bears mentioning because it is such a deal breaker. A 2013 CareerBuilder survey indicated that 58 percent of employers said they would automatically dismiss a client with typos in a resume. Typos indicate to an employer that you are careless, sloppy and lack attention to detail. None of these traits are in demand among employers.
Weak words, vague descriptions.
Your resume should be packed with action words describing your accomplishments. It shouldn’t sound like you cut and pasted your job description. Of course you did the tasks listed in your jobs description, but what did you contribute? Where did you excel? Search your resume for the terms “responsible for” or “duties included” if you find them, strike them out and rewrite with action words.
Cluttered, hard to follow layout.
Strip your resume down to its essentials to ensure that there is plenty of white space. It should be easy to read. But don’t leave out important things like the dates you worked at each position. It will look like you’ve got something to hide.
No customization.
In the computer age, there is no excuse not to customize each resume to the position you are applying for. It’s not as if you are taking it to the print shop for 500 copies on vellum to mail out. By the same token, there should be balance. Don’t load your resume up with incomprehensible jargon, or keyword stuff in an attempt to outsmart screening software. Just look at the job description, think about how you would explain to someone why your experience makes you suited to the position and tweak your resume accordingly.
Objectives, not skills summaries.
This topic is up for debate, but if you think about it, an objective is about what you want. A skills summary sums up what you can offer to the employer. Which do you think will be more attractive to a hiring manager?
If you would like help updating your resume or finding the right job, the experienced recruiters at Marquee Staffing can help. We help Southern California job seekers connect local employers who are looking for talent and experience like yours. Contact us today to learn more.
