Practical Communication

25 Resume Mistakes that Will Keep You From Getting an Interview

If you’re searching for a new job, the first hurdle you’ll have to cross is getting that job interview. In today’s competitive job market, employers often receive several hundred applicants for every available position.

If you want to make it through the screening process, you have to do everything within your power to avoid resume mistakes that could cause a potential employer to screen you out.

Here are 25 common and costly resume mistakes you can easily avoid.

1. Typos and grammatical errors.

2. Giving your entire work history, especially if it includes dated, irrelevant experience.

3. Including hobbies and interests.

4. Including personal data that could be grounds for a discrimination suit if you were not hired, such as marital status, whether you have children, your age, etc.

5. Including age-revealing details, such as the year you graduated.

6. Providing a job description or list of job duties instead of quantified accomplishments.

7. Visually overwhelming, i.e., not enough “white space” on the page.

8. Starting sentences with “I”.

9. Factual inaccuracies, whether intentional or unintentional.

10. Overstating your qualifications or accomplishments.

11. Outdated or incorrect contact information.

12. Including a contact phone number that children or cranky mothers-in-law might answer.

13. A vague, meaningless objective.

14. An inappropriate or unprofessional email address.

15. Including frequent or long employment gaps. (Use a functional resume instead)

16. Using a chronological, traditional-style resume when you’ve had frequent job changes or employment gaps.

17. Not using language and key words found in the job announcement.

18. Using outdated jargon or lingo.

19. Including outdated technical or computer expertise.

20. Not showing growth through continuing education or new expertise.

21. Including company specific acronyms those outside the company would not know.

22. Sending the wrong cover letter with your resume saying how much you want to work for that OTHER company.

23. Sending out the same resume for every job without customizing it.

24. Burying relevant experience at the BOTTOM of the resume.

25. Not considering the potential employer’s needs/interests when determining the order of elements on the resume.

 

 

 

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