What’s wrong with my resume?

What’s wrong with my resume?

Below are five common resume mistakes to avoid. I recommend having your resume open and checking for each common mistake as you read this article.

Too much information

It is so easy to fall victim to the common resume mistake of including too much information on your resume. You have less than 10 seconds to capture the attention of your audience and give them a reason to keep reading. The more information you have on your resume, the more muddled the “good stuff” is going to be. Determine what skills and experience are most important to the employer by carefully analyzing the job description. Then, use that as your screen and keep the content that is most relevant and impressive.

You might be wondering, are two-page resumes OK? Ninety-nine percent of the time, I suggest one page. The purpose of the resume is to give the employer your best, most relevant experience instead of your full story.

Ambiguous skills section

I see many young and experienced people make common resume mistakes of having broad “skills” sections on their resume. Students tend to list skills such as leadership, time management skills, etc. They know these skills are essential to employers; however, they don’t realize that employers want to know HOW they have demonstrated those skills. Anyone can write “leadership” on a resume. Stating that you were an officer of a campus organization is a much stronger use of the space. It tells us how you developed and demonstrated leadership skills.

Lack of focus on outcomes

If you’re wondering, “what’s wrong with my resume?” or aren’t being invited for interviews, your resume might be lacking tangible evidence of professional outcomes. For each professional experience, ask yourself what your key accomplishments were. Include numbers as frequently as you can when writing your resume. Outcomes and numbers bring your experience and achievements to life for a hiring manager.

If you are an experienced professional, consider having a section at the top of your resume where you highlight essential accomplishments that will capture interest. For example, I recently worked with a professional with years of experience in landscaping and was looking at various project management positions. We titled a section, “Key Projects & Achievements,” where we highlighted five of his most significant contracts and projects that he had managed. We included the number of years to communicate longevity, provided the size of the contract in dollars to communicate the magnitude, and, because the specialty was landscaping project management, we also included the size of the projects in acreage.

Avoid the common resume mistake of omitting outcomes. Highlighting your achievements and results is one of the best ways to make your resume and experience stand out to employers.

Wasting space on weak content

It sounds harsh, but wasting valuable resume space on weak content definitely is one of the most common resume mistakes I see. An example is someone listing “Microsoft Office” on their list of skills. Most of the workforce is proficient in Microsoft Office; this is not a skill that will make you stand out amongst other applicants. Another example is listing outdated high school information on a resume. Once a student has entered their second year of college, omit the high school information. It is no longer relevant or needed and is taking up space.

If omitting weak content leaves your resume empty, make it your mission to volunteer, acquire certifications, etc. Then, your resume will contain the valuable information you need to be a standout candidate.

Repeating job duties or skills

I often see candidates state identical or similar information multiple times on their resumes. It’s a common resume mistake and one that can easily be avoided. Remember, more information is not better when it comes to resumes! More text means more time, more reading, and less chance that hiring managers will see the content you want them to see.

When I meet with resume clients, we try to tease out the three best job duties or accomplishments we can highlight for each position. Then, we go back through the resume’s work experience section to ensure we aren’t repeating the same skill sets or outcomes. Demonstrate that you are a well-rounded candidate with various skills and achievements.

What if I made a mistake on my resume?

If, while reading this list, you realize you have made one or more of these mistakes, don’t consume yourself with worry or shame. It happens. If you have the right skills and experience for the job, making one of the mistakes above may not stop you from getting the interview! However, you will want to fix the mistake right away.

The best way to catch these mistakes is to get help. Have a seasoned resume writer or someone in your network with hiring experience help you. The second set of eyes, especially if those eyes look at a lot of resumes, can help you polish your resume and stand out. I offer affordable, one-on-one resume writing services that will help you move past the competition and onto the interview process!

Do you need resume help?

A resume is an important document! If you have been wondering, “what’s wrong with my resume?” and really want to land the interview, you must be able to sell yourself on paper in about 10 seconds or less! That’s a lot of pressure, but it can easily be accomplished with the right content. I can help you take your resume from average to exceptional!

As an experienced educator and career coach, I sit down with students and young professionals one-on-one with their career endeavors! Whether you want tailored resume help or assistance finding and landing your dream job, I can help!

Book a free consultation today!

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Make sure your resume includes these key elements so you stand out amongst multitudes of applicants!