You’re writing your resume. What are the most common mistakes you need to avoid?

When crafting your resume, it's crucial to avoid common mistakes such as using a generic template that lacks customization for the specific job you're applying for. Additionally, steer clear of including irrelevant or outdated information that doesn't showcase your qualifications effectively. Ensure consistency in formatting, grammar, and spelling throughout the document to maintain a professional appearance. Finally, avoid overcrowding your resume with excessive details; instead, focus on highlighting key achievements and skills that are directly relevant to the position you're seeking.

Avoid these resume mistakes: Typos, grammar errors: Proofread meticulously! Generic info, irrelevant info: Focus on specific achievements and tailor to each position. Responsibilities, not achievements: Use the STAR method to showcase impact. Lying/exaggerating: Be honest and truthful. Poor formatting, unprofessional email: Use clear, consistent formatting and a professional email address. One size fits all: Tailor your resume to each specific job application. Outdated information: Regularly update your resume with your latest experience and skills. By avoiding these, you can create a strong resume that helps you land your dream job!

Typos, grammatical errors, and spelling mistakes can undermine your credibility and attention to detail. Proofread your resume carefully or consider having someone else review it to catch any errors.

Incorrect contact information: Double-check your phone number, email address, and other contact details for accuracy. Including irrelevant information: Avoid including hobbies, interests, or personal information unrelated to the job. Using an unprofessional email address: Opt for a professional email address that sounds appropriate for the workplace.

A resume with lots of spelling and grammar mistakes looks unprofessional and messy. These errors can make recruiters and bosses think you don't care about your work. To avoid this problem, check your resume carefully, use tools to fix spelling mistakes, and ask someone else to look at it. For example, if you write "manger" instead of "manager," it might show you didn't check your work.

A one-pager resume is not a must have. This is a myth. If 2 pages does your career history justice - go for it. Now, if you are entry level/a new graduate - it is fine to have 1 page, or even 2 pages. The rule of thumb really is not to go beyond 2 pages for a normal resume unless it is a federal resume, a portfolio resume, academic resume, a CV, of you have 15-20+ years of work experience and can do justice for a 3+ page resume (even then, if you can write it in 2 this is preferred). While doing a one page resume is impressive - if you feel you struggle to condense everything into 1 page - relax, 2 page resumes are industry standard for most applications.

A good resume is short and clear, but not too short or vague. If it's too long, it might make the reader lose interest. If it's too short, it might miss important details. Try to keep it to one or two pages, using bullet points and headings to make it easy to read. For example, if you're applying for a job in customer service, include details about your experience dealing with customers and solving problems.

Someone with relevant experience who is very senior could be justified if using 3 pages, even 4 if this is a field where a person may have considerable qualifications such as in the medical sector. You should always scour your text to see if it can be streamlined without losing impact and value. I would advise against having two pages, with only a few lines on page 3. If you are in that situation, space the text out a little and let it breathe. There is no rule of thumb on CV length any more, the CV is personal to the job seeker and as long as it is authentic and the writer has made every word count...it is what it is. Aim for shorter, but don't sacrifice value!

In my professional opinion, I always advise my clients to focus on quality, content, and relevancy, not page length. The goal is to convey value, so take the space you need to accomplish that.

Clean Up: Review your resume from the bottom (oldest jobs) and remove anything irrelevant to your target role. Tell Your Story: Craft each section that highlights how your past experiences (even older ones) shaped you into the perfect candidate for this specific job. This approach lets you showcase your growth and tailor your resume to each opportunity.

Focus on relevant skills and experiences. Omit irrelevant details like hobbies or high school achievements. For example, if you're applying for a software developer position, emphasize your programming languages proficiency and projects completed, rather than unrelated skills or experiences.

Including irrelevant or outdated information, such as unrelated work experiences or hobbies, can detract from the overall effectiveness of your resume. Stick to information that is directly relevant to the job you're applying for.

Nobody needs to know that you have awesome expertise with Windows 98. Neither do they need to know about your experience with Word Perfect! Hobbies are OK if they fit with your expertise, but it may be better to add your projects to your LinkedIn page under 'project' - otherwise, it can look like filler and it adds needless length to your CV. The idea is to expand on recent experience and as you taper off into the past [reverse chronology], the detail tapers off into more of a summary - if you can do, only go back 10 or 15 years max - the rest can be a summary on your LinkedIn profile. A future employer will ask for references, there is no need to tell them that you will provide it - you have to, there is no choice moving forward!

Always check your resume for outdated or irrelevant information. It is always a good idea to remove older jobs that do not align with your goals today.

Never include an "Objective" on your resume. If your objective is anything other than securing the job for which you are applying, you should not be applying for the job. Moreover, if your "Objective" is not perfectly in line with the job, you will be disqualifying yourself. Use the space to highlight your accomplishments. That's what employers care about.

Avoid placing an objective section at the top, as it's an outdated trend. Instead, focus on showcasing your KSA (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities). Rather than solely listing job roles, create detailed job descriptions. It's common for people to make the mistake of placing the skills section at the bottom. Only include short-term roles in the main professional experience section if they're significant. Always prioritize the last 10 experiences for seasoned professionals.

Craft a concise, clear resume summary highlighting your unique strengths and career ambitions. For example, instead of a vague statement like "Seeking a challenging position in a dynamic company," You could say, "Detail-oriented marketing professional with 3 years of experience seeking a role in digital marketing to leverage expertise in SEO and content strategy."

An 'Objective' section should not appear on your CV, it belongs in the outdated section in point 3. However, you should thread your objective throughout your opening paragraph - it should be clear where you see yourself fitting into the business. Make your job titles clear as these are likely to demonstrate your fit and you can even add a headline that identifies your role, profession and/or your sector under your name or under the contact details. It should be obvious enough in your CV and/or cover letter what your objective is without having to add any heading!

Ensure your resume maintains a consistent, professional layout for easy readability. For example, if you start with your work experience, ensure that each job entry follows the same format, including dates, job titles, and responsibilities.

Stick to a single font - you may 'get away' with 2 font types, but why risk it? There is no upside to doing that. Definitely have your headings and name a few points above 10pt or 11pt, but it should look orderly throughout the document. Justify the text, keep the margins of equal size left and right. It is OK to have your headings in a different colour than black, but don't risk it too much, don't use pink or green, it won't look great! Don't use a template, it will limit your ability to optimise your available space. Don't make the headings too complicated, it should be obvious what the content it under each heading.

A cluttered or poorly formatted resume can be difficult to read and may not make a good first impression. It's essential to use a clean, professional layout with consistent formatting throughout the document.

Simply listing job responsibilities without quantifying your achievements or contributions can make your resume seem generic and unimpressive. Whenever possible, use numbers and metrics to demonstrate the impact of your work.