Mistakes to Avoid on Your Resume

You’ve decided you can write your own resume – after all you have a computer, know how to type, and think that it is a simple procedure.

Turns out that writing an effective resume is not a task to be undertaken lightly.

According to HR professionals, nearly 95% of resumes in circulation (either on paper or in cyberspace) are bad.

You can have a big advantage by avoiding some of the most common mistakes:

1. Don’t grab an old book on “How to Write a Resume.” Resume styles are very dynamic and in constant change. Start with what you think the reader needs to know. Hints:
   
   
   1. Who are you and how do I reach you?
   2. What can you do for me?
   3. Are you smart enough to train?
   4. What have you done in the past that might be helpful to me?
   5. What did you accomplish in those jobs?
      
      
2. Don’t leave off dates because it looks like you can’t hold a job. This can lead to the reader assuming all sorts of things like “Has he/she been doing hard time?” Hints:
   
   
   1. Try a functional style where you can list your skill set.
   2. Combine employment dates when in the same field.
      
      
3. Include your duties, of course, but don’t leave out your accomplishments. These are what set you apart from the crowd. Hints:
   
   
   1. Increased sales by x% in six months.
   2. Acquired x new clients in existing territory, increasing sales by x%.
      
      
4. Leave off the personal information. No one cares and some might find your information objectionable. Do not include your age, gender, race, church affiliation, or hunting skills. For everything you like, someone can find a reason to disqualify you on paper.
   
   
5. Don’t get long-winded. Resumes have a life span of about 20 to 30 seconds. If you don’t get their attention quickly, you’ll never get it. Keep your resume short and concise.
   
   
6. Proofread and then proofread again. A resume with a typo is a killer.
   
   
7. Use good paper and a good printer. If you don’t care how you look when you want a job, what will the employer think about how you will handle yourself once you have the job?
   
   
8. Don’t just send out bunches of resumes hoping that someone will call. Target your mailing to firms that could use someone with your skills.
   
   
9. Avoid the use of industry slang. If you can walk the walk the employer will know you can talk the talk.
   
   
10. Write short, easy-to-read, statements about your skills, knowledge, and abilities.