The Three Biggest Mistakes with Resume Writing

Resumes. That is probably the first thing you are told to make when you are on the job search. And that is the correct thing to focus on at first. A resume’s purpose is to get you an interview, which can then lead to a new job. Simply put, a resume is the first door that you will be going through on the job search journey.

However, making a good resume is hard and there are plenty of mistakes that can happen when making one for the first time or after a very long time being employed. If you will apply the next three suggestions, you will avoid the biggest mistakes when creating your resume.

A Changed Resume is a Good Resume

One of the biggest mistakes that job seekers make when using their resume is that they don’t change the resume for each job application that they submit. It is all too easy to make one master resume and use it to apply for every single job.  Many job seekers have fallen for the ease and expediency of applying with just one resume. This is a trap, however, and can lead to hours of wasted work.

This is because many larger companies use applicant tracking systems to screen applicants for keywords in their resumes. In order to prevent your resume from being discarded by these systems, you will have to change your resume’s keywords for each application (Baes and Henderson, 2022). This might sound daunting, but a good place to start is to review the first two or three bullets of the job’s duties and requirements and add those keywords to your resume. If you are applying for a lot of similar positions, then this process can go a lot quicker if the keywords are similar.

Simple Design is Key

The next big mistake that can happen when writing a resume is to use fancy fonts and designs. A resume should be simple and convey your skills and previous experience, not show off how pretty you can make your resume. Simplicity is key, especially when fighting against those pesky applicant tracking systems. There are many ways to format your resume, but this template from Career Network Ministry showcases how simplicity is better than creativity.

Watch Out for Those Grammatical Errors

While grammatical and spelling errors may seem small in comparison to making descriptive bullet points or making sure all the dates for each job are accurate, a misspelled word or a grammatically correct sentence can be a lot bigger than you think. When recruiters look at your resume, they see how you write and how professional you are through your writing. Spelling and grammar mistakes can come across as unprofessional and sloppy, and can make some recruiters dismiss your application because of that (Resume Mansion, 2023). This is why it is always a good idea to proofread your resume to catch any errors. An even better way of catching errors is to have a friend or family member look it over. Two eyes are always better than one.

These are just three methods to avoid the biggest mistakes that can be made when writing a resume. Being resume ready will free you up to focus on other areas of your job search. And, hopefully, add a new job onto your resume soon.

Author

Amanda Libby, CNM Public Relations and Communications Coordinator