These Are the Most Common Mistakes in Resumes
When you graduated from university, you had closed all your hometasks and forgiven your searching “do my statistics homework”. Your next step is to find the job of your dream. But first of all, you need a perfect resume.
There are many stages in the recruitment process. These include posting an application and sending a job opportunity. Your resume is your first impression to potential employers.
You could lose your job if you make a few mistakes on your resume.
Avoid these common errors to ensure a perfect resume
1. Wrong Formatting
A badly formatted resume is one of the biggest mistakes people make, especially if you are creating a resume from scratch.
It is one of the easiest problems to correct. Potential employers may ignore a resume that is not properly formatted.
Formatting mistakes include resume fonts, font sizes, and format. These are some tips to help you format your resume correctly.
* Use a standard font such as Times New Roman or Arial.
* A 12-point font size is recommended
* Set the margins to 1 inch around
* Indent each paragraph’s first line
* To organize information, use numbers or bullets
* Avoid using text boxes and decorative fonts
* Save your resume to PDF
2. Grammatical Errors and Typos
Your dream job could be at risk if you make mistakes or misspell words. CareerBuilder’s study found that 58% of employers won’t interview candidates if they see typos in their resumes.
Grammatical errors can make you appear unprofessional and careless about details. Typos make you seem careless and uninformed.
These mistakes are often noticed by hiring managers who may conclude that you don’t have an eye for detail or aren’t fluent in English. Before you send out your resume, it is important to proofread it carefully.
Ask someone to review it and use online tools like Grammarly to help you spot mistakes.
3. Unprofessional photo
We’ve all been there. A resume is necessary if you are looking for work. You don’t have professional photos so you take one with your smartphone. BIG mistake.
Unprofessional photos are a common mistake on resumes. This can make it look like you don’t take your job search seriously.
It can also make you appear unqualified for the job. Don’t worry if you don’t have a professional photographer. You can skip taking the photo.
A resume that does not include a photo is better than one with a poor photo.
Employers reject applicants most often because they don’t like their photos (44%), then inappropriate content (38%), and posts with poor communication skills (32%).
4. An inappropriate email address
Your resume should be error-free. It is important to ensure that your email address is professional and correct.
Employers often google potential employees, and if they come across an email address like mylittlepony@hotmail.com, they are not likely to consider you for the position.
It is important to choose an email address that is professional and portrays the image you wish to project. Professional email addresses should only contain name and surname.
Some examples of professional email addresses are name.surname@yahoo.com or surname.name@yahoo.com. Before you send out your resume, double-check it and ensure that you have the correct email address.
5. Exaggerating the Experience
Exaggerating or fabricating your work experience is one of the most common errors. Candidates sometimes lie about their job titles, dates, and responsibilities.
Sometimes, they might lie about their work experience or degree.
No matter what case it may be, embellishing your resume can lead to discrepancies down the road and could even get you fired. You could end up with discrepancies later on and even lose your job if caught.
It also makes you appear untrustworthy to potential employers.
Instead of embellishing the truth, highlight your accomplishments and experiences. This will make you stand out and improve your chances of landing the job.
Conclusion
You can also use an online resume creator to avoid the above-mentioned issues regarding overall formatting. You should however be careful and ensure that you only include professional and accurate content. Employers can reach out to your former company to get feedback on you and your work experience.