Resume Mistakes and How to Fix Them
People make mistakes all the time, and they learn from it eventually. However, if the errors are found in your resume, it can cost you opportunities in landing your ideal job. There are ways of fixing the errors, but it’s important that you first know how to identify them.
Absurd length
Right off the bat, the hiring manager might set your resume aside if they see more than three pages of data. Details are meant to impress, but it’s a huge turn off when you feel the need to include every little detail of your employment history. When you put up excessive words for someone to read, it’s a signal that tells them you need much of their time. For them, it’s time wasted and kind of pointless if the whole thing has little substance.
No relevance or connection to the job
Some applicants tend to send out multiple copies of a single resume to various employers without customising the content for each company. Job openings often indicate the type of skills and experience they prefer, and you can use this as your guide when deciding which ones to include. It pays to do some background research on your target companies, and you can use the information you collect into personalising your resume to fit the job ad.
Incoherence and poor choice of words
The rule in writing the text for resumes applies to most journalistic principles as well. Keep it short and concise. As mentioned, three pages should do. Do not use words that may be confusing to understand in context. You may include jargon that is relevant to the industry, but don’t overdo it. The hiring manager should be able to understand your career objectives and breeze through the other content with ease.
Disorganized information
Organisation is an area where companies are very much particular on, and they need to gauge your level of focus based on how you present your qualifications. You need to ensure that you can provide the employer a clear direction you plan for your career. Let your resume tell a story that has a beginning, with updates up to the present. Here’s a template you can use:
I worked ________(employment history and tasks) before, and I’m looking to upgrade/address/seek(reason for job search). I can offer _________(skills and experience) to your company.
Outdated and not updated
One more danger of sending out multiple copies of the same resume is not being able to tell if the details are up-to-date. There might be some certificates or trainings you haven’t included yet, and it could cost you points for qualifications. If you’re still in the same job during the application process, see if there are new tasks you’ve been handling, and check if it’s relevant to the job description.
The resume you send out is the first glance at your employment profile you can give to potential employers. If you do it right, you can expect your credentials to rise above the pile, landing you a good job in no time.
Author By-Line:
Katherine Flowers does research on medical jobs and GP vacancies around Australia. She keeps abreast of industry trends and shares them through articles and journals.
