10 Worst Resume Mistakes you must Avoid

Are you one of those people who have been applying to a lot of companies without getting a response back from any of them? You might be wondering if you aren’t qualified enough but the truth might be that it is your resume acting as a block.

You probably assume that a few mistakes in your resume wouldn’t decrease your probability of getting hired. The truth is, mistakes and errors in your resume are one of the quickest ways of getting rejected.

Think about it this way- Your resume is an essential route through which employers are able to assess your achievements and qualifications. It is also the first impression you make on an employer. So, getting side-lined from the pool of applicants for a poor first impression isn’t unexpected.

If you make resume mistakes, like for instance, bad grammar, spelling errors, and other types, you might come across as an unprofessional and unqualified candidate. It might demonstrate a candidate’s lack of sincerity towards their job. There can be small resume mistakes like spelling errors or big ones like not taking into consideration the job you are applying for when creating your resume.

Just like any other step in your career, creating your resume also comes with a structure that you need to follow to be able to ace your application.

So, here are the 10 Worst Resume Mistakes you must Avoid while applying for a job-

• Grammar and Punctuation Errors

It is mandatory to scan through your resume to clear out all the grammatical, punctuation, and spelling errors. Sending your resume without editing might prove to be a bad move.

If you try reading between the lines, you will understand the underlying message conveyed through grammatical errors.

An employer might conclude that you are not responsible while doing the projects assigned. In short, you are not serious or sincere enough about the work which is why you didn’t even get the time to proofread your resume.

Errors like punctuation and spelling may indicate carelessness which, obviously, acts against you when compared with other applicants. On the contrary, a resume free from grammatical errors and rich with words depict the candidate’s enthusiasm for doing the task at hand.

• Adding Irrelevant Work Experience

When enhancing your resume with work experience, try to add the jobs and internships which are relevant to the position you are applying for.

Your work experiences should include skills and potential that will boost your chances of getting hired in the organization.

Check the firm you are applying in and if your past roles appear unrelated, try adding accomplishments and experiences in your resume that highlights your skill development for the current job.

For example, if you are applying for a job that included editing you might list out jobs where you worked as a proofreader or content writer that indirectly Joreflects your skills around editing.

• Not Providing Enough Information

When you have scanned through relevant experiences, the next step is to provide enough details about your job roles. If you do not give prominence to the details like the skills you developed or the exposure you obtained, the employer may simply pass your resume as it does not exemplify how you are suitable for the position.

Include three to five points about your past roles and take into consideration your wording as your vocabulary will help showcase your abilities even more.

• Adding No References or Multiple References

Eliminating professional references from your resume is another mistake you need to avoid. If there are no references to trust the authenticity of your work, it gives the hiring team another reason to dismiss your application but on the contrary, having too many references can also influence how the employers will look at your resume.

Normally, two or three references should be enough but make sure that you have a professional network with those people.

You might incorporate the names of past colleagues, clients, or supervisors with whom you have established good connections so that they might offer positive feedback if the employers contact them. On the other side, avoid using personal acquaintances as references. Likewise, if you point out that you will deliver the reference upon inquisition, avoid repeating the sentences too many times.

• Using the Same Resume for Different Jobs

Using the exact resume for different job roles and positions is something you wouldn’t want to do. When submitting your resume for a job, format it so that it is suitable for the position.

As stated before, adding unrelated experiences can be a drawback. Using the same resume for different jobs might make you look uninterested or lazy. It is true that you have to do more work but a targeted resume will permit potential employers to understand how you fit well for the position.

• Old or Wrong Contact Information

You should check that the contact number and other information provided by you is up to date with the correct current address. It will leave a terrible impression upon the employers if they are unable to contact you due to wrong contact details or incorrect address. If you scour any previous resume, make sure to update the details.

• Defining Job Duties rather than Accomplishments

Although job duties are important to share especially when they are associated with the field but professional achievements demonstrate your caliber and will help your employers to realize how you will assist the company.

You should include the job or duty assigned to you and strengthen it with the achievements so that your hiring team can see how your work has benefitted your past employers. This will give them a concrete reason to prefer you over others.

• A too Long or too Short Resume

Resumes are ideally between one to two pages. If you are someone who has just graduated and does not have adequate professional experience, sticking to a single page is a good idea. However, if you have years of experience, it is a bad idea to stretch your resume. The likelihood of employers reading a Resume that is seven pages long is very low. This can have a negative impact on your application.

• An Unprofessional E-mail Address

Another resume mistake that people rarely notice is the use of an unprofessional e-mail address. An informal address that includes profanities will make the candidate look extremely insincere.

Your E-mail address might comprise your first name and last name in any order. You can create a new address just for all your career-related work. When you add that address to your resume, it will make it appear more formal.

• Putting in Salary Requirements

You might be planning on some minimum amount of salary to get started with the job. Nevertheless, including your demand in the resume is a big mistake. It doesn’t leave a good impression and your employer might reject the application as the salary might be higher than what they are offering.

The safest option is to eliminate the salary requirements from your resume. Also, salary is mostly discussed and negotiated during an interview or through the cover letter.

Conclusion

Your resume is a double-edged sword. If it covers all the relevant and effective aspects that can lure potential employers, it will work for you. However, small mistakes and blunders can reduce your chances of getting shortlisted. Editing and modification of your resume, keeping in mind substantial points, can significantly increase your probability of getting the job. An error-free resume will automatically boost your confidence to face the employers and their barrage of questions.