8 Resume Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Writing a resume can be a daunting task, but it’s an undeniably important step in the job search process.

A strong resume can help you stand out from the competition and land an interview, while a weak one can hold you back. And weak resumes usually suffer from some mistakes that are surprisingly simple to avoid.

To help you write a resume with less “oops…” and more “whoop! whoop!”, take a look at these 8 common resume errors and what you can do to make sure you don’t make these mistakes!

Using an unprofessional email address

Your email address is often the first point of contact with a potential employer. It’s important to use a professional-sounding email address, such as your name, rather than a more casual one.

Using an unprofessional font or layout

Your resume should be easy to read and visually appealing. Stick to clean, professional fonts, like Arial or Calibri, and use clear headings and bullet points to organize your information.

Including irrelevant information

Your resume should focus on your relevant skills and experience. Avoid including unrelated hobbies or personal information, as they are not relevant to the job you are applying for.

Making typos or grammatical errors

Carefully proofread your resume to catch any mistakes. Typos and grammatical errors can make you appear careless or unprofessional.

Not using keywords from the job description

The job posting offers you insight into what the employer really wants, and how they think about their ideal candidate. Look for powerful adjectives and action verbs, as well as phrases or terms that are repeated often (such as “customer-focused”, or “team-oriented”). Also be sure to look for specific titles for jobs, licenses, and skills which may be labelled slightly differently now (such as “administrative assistant” instead of “secretary”). Be sure to include the latest keywords in your resume so you seem like an even closer match!

Using irrelevant jargon or buzzwords

While it’s important to highlight your skills and achievements, using industry jargon or buzzwords can make your resume sound generic or difficult to understand for someone who is not familiar with your field, unless they are terms that the employer includes in their job posting.

Not tailoring your resume to the job

Tailor your resume to the specific job you are applying for by highlighting the skills and experience that are most relevant to the position. This will show the employer that you are a good fit for the job.

Not including a cover letter

A cover letter is a chance to introduce yourself and explain why you are the best candidate for the job. Be sure to include a cover letter with your resume to give the employer a sense of who you are and why you are interested in the position. Nowadays, a cover letter doesn’t have to be an actual document either. It could be a few sentences in an email you’ve attached your resume to, or comments you leave on an online application.

Conclusion

Sometimes a simple mistake is all it takes. Don’t hurt your chances of landing your next job by letting one of these errors happen to you.

It also never hurts to have a second pair of eyes look things over. META can help proofread and edit your resume with you — or even help you create one from scratch!

Book your free appointment today to get help with everything you need to succeed at YOUR job search!

8 Resume Mistakes and How to Avoid Them