Mistakes you might be making when creating your resume

Your resume plays a vital role in the job searching process and should be written in a professional manner, highlighting your strongest qualities. There is room for error though and it is these little mistakes that might deter the results you have been hoping for.

Here follows some mistakes you might be making when compiling your resume.

You have used more than one colour

Black is your standard ink colour and it should stay that way throughout your CV. Even if you have added another colour in the hopes of organising your data, it still comes across as cluttered to the eye and childish. Use Bold and Underline to highlight headings and organise your information. There is an exception here however, as creative individuals such as graphic designers might benefit from using their CV as a canvas to display their creativity.

You have an objective summary or intro in your resume

Time is all that matters today so it is imperative that you don’t waste the time of someone who has to go through hundreds of other resumes. Get right to the point, skills and job history, and avoid intros of any kind. Rather include a to-the-point cover letter in the body of the email your CV is attached to.

It’s written in paragraphs

Fix this by using bullet points or columns. The main point is to make your CV easy to read so avoid writing long, descriptive paragraphs. Keep your data organised, easy to read and concise.

You still have your interests and hobbies in your resume

When you think about it, prospective employers don’t care what you like to do in your free time. Whether you knit, fix cars, read books or exercise regularly has nothing to do with your ability to do the job. This is irrelevant information that needs to go.

It has too many pages

Coming back to saving time, you have to try to keep your CV to three pages or less. This can be very challenging especially to those persons who have a lot of job experience, but it is possible. Keep your points clear and short and purge any information that might be irrelevant to the job you are applying for.

No one cares about your attendance record at school or whether you were the captain of the rugby team, maybe if you are applying for university but certainly not when applying for a job. It makes you come across as a bit immature.

Quick tip: Instead of listing all the Microsoft office programs you know, just state, that your computer literacy includes the whole Microsoft office package. If you don’t know how to work with excel or Outlook, then learn it, quickly.

You’re making grammar and spelling mistakes

Spelling mistakes and typos are unavoidable however, if you are uncertain then have someone check your spelling and grammar for you. Never ever send a resume with mistakes on it. It can greatly damage your chances of landing an interview.

Remember to keep your resume updated and just follow these tips and you will end up with a clean, professional CV.

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