Your resume is a portrayal of yourself.
It is the first – and often the only thing potential employers and recruiters look at when they are deciding who to employ.
If you have a poorly assembled resume then you do not stand a chance of being chosen above tonnes of other candidates who applied for the same job. They will take a look at your resume, think that you are incompetent and toss it aside.
This is why it is so important that you have an absolutely perfect resume and that you avoid these critical mistakes that so many people make when they are typing up their resume.
It is needless to say that you should never lie on your resume. You will be digging your own grave if you do get the job and realise that you actually require the skills that you pretended to have. Furthermore, many employers and especially recruiters are now making use of companies that check your credentials and other details of your resume in order to ensure that you are in fact being truthful. If they do discover that you were lying, it can be classified as CV fraud.
However, other than being untruthful regarding the details of your resume, there are other errors that can cost you the job – things that potential employers pick up on immediately and as a result, eliminates you as a potential employee.
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Spelling Errors
If a potential employer or recruiter is going through your resume, they will definitely pick up on spelling and grammar errors and they are almost guaranteed to take you out of the candidate pool because of this.
If your resume shows that you cannot spell properly and you make grammar errors, it is an indication of incompetence. This is especially important if you are applying for an office position or for a job where you will have to interact with clients. If you cannot use proper grammar, it also indicates that you are unable to communicate effectively.
Before sending your resume to an employer or a recruitment agency, ensure that your spelling and grammar is on point. There are many online tools and websites that will identify your errors and provide corrections.
Cramming
When reviewing a resume, nobody wants to read over ten pages of information that is crammed into four pages with an 8pt font – in general, nobody wants to read that much information.
It is common for applicants to try and fill up their resumes as much as possible in order to seem more accomplished. However, no employer wants to know that you played field hockey in high school and they most definitely do not want to read an entire essay about it. Be sure to list only things that are of importance and do not elaborate too much – we’re not saying you should not be vague, but if they are interested in something, they will contact you.
You should also be careful not to use too small a font. A standard 11pt font is perfect. Be sure to keep it in the normal range. You can use slightly bigger letters for the headings in order to improve the appearance.
Not Being Yourself
As stated before, your resume is a portrayal of yourself.
Therefore, you need to ensure that you are always true to yourself when comprising your resume and that you do not pretend to be something that you are not.
It is important that you get a position for which you are right and a position that is right for you. If you pretend to be something that you are not, you will end up in the wrong field, doing something that you will most likely despise.
However, more importantly, if your true personality is missing from your resume then the employer will not know if you are going to be able to fit in with the company. Beyond skills and qualifications, employers want employees who will be able to fit into their organisation.
So remember to be yourself. Not doing so might cost you the job.
Irrelevant Information
In addition to not cramming, you should avoid adding irrelevant information.
Only add information that pertains to the position you are applying for.
If you are applying for a position in say, finance then you should not spend too much time talking about your other skills, such as cooking or landscaping. This is simply unnecessary and it will most likely only discourage the employer from reviewing your resume. List only skills that will be helpful if you do get the position and remember that you do not have to list every single job you have ever had. It is actually recommended to only list jobs that are similar to the one you are applying for. If you had dabbled in too many career paths, you will seem vacillating.
You can list the things that you have done for the past few years, but do not elaborate on details that are irrelevant to the position. Keep it relevant.