I always thought that the perfect resume is made when you systematically list down your personal information, your transcript of records, your medals of honour, your work experience, your prior education, and your participation in extracurricular activities. It all seemed like a very simple process in the beginning and it always led me to wonder why people prioritize making their resume to an extent where they were even ready to pay for getting it done to perfection. As I paid close attention to the details of a fine resume, I realised that a lot of us tend to ignore small and silly mistakes in a CV simply because we do not know that they could be the reasons for rejection. I have decided to share some of the common mistakes in a resume to avoid; so that you and I, together, will leave no chance for the employers to point out to us.
Resume Mistakes To Avoid: # 1 Avoid Grammatical Errors
Now you may not think of a grammatical error to be a reason for costing you a job. But it may be very off-putting to the employer to read a ‘you’re’ instead of ‘your’ or a ‘to’ instead of a ‘too’.
For example: It changes the meaning of ‘you’re’ sentence when you make ‘to’ many mistakes when the actual sentence is It changes the meaning of your sentence when you make too many mistakes.
One of the most common mistakes in a resume to avoid as regards grammar is random capitalization of words as in the case of this: “enclosed is my Resume for your consideration” but you need to be aware that resume is not a title or a name as such and doesn’t need to be capitalized.
Common Resume Mistakes: # 2 Do Not Use An Unprofessional Email Address
You must have created an email address for yourself at an early age where the more creative it was, the better you felt about yourself. That was good for a casual chatting session with your classmates, friends, and peers. But imagine the CEO/Company heads sending an email on ‘joelisarockstar@gmail.com’. It is obviously an unprofessional behaviour from your end. Make sure that your email address has your name and your surname and/or a number alongside. Note this down among the common mistakes in a resume to avoid and ensure professionalism from the start. The table below will give you a better idea of the do’s and don’ts pertaining to an email address.
Common Mistakes In A Resume To Avoid: # 3 Avoid Wordiness
Quite often, we want to boast about many of our achievements and capabilities and we tend to elaborate on them. But did you know that on an average, a recruiter spends not more than 7 – 8 seconds to read a resume? You are under a wrong assumption if you think that the longer the resume and more pages attached, the more impactful. Make sure you avoid this the next time by implementing the ‘A B C’ strategy i.e.
- Accuracy
- Brevity
- Clarity
Remember that sometimes ‘Less is More’ so make sure you give in all the required details but do not overcrowd your resume.
Resume Mistakes: # 4 Incorrect / Missing Information Is A Big No-No
While entering your contact information and your location details, make sure that you check and cross-check before submitting it. Imagine that you have a strong resume with great qualities and prior experience. This will give an impression to the employer that you are the perfect fit for the job. The employer decides to call you but oops! You have entered the wrong contact details or have missed out on this. That pain will sting you not because your resume wasn’t good but because of a tiny mishap. You should cross this out from your list of common mistakes in a resume to avoid as soon as you make your resume so you can avoid this hassle.
Common Mistakes In A Resume To Avoid: # 5 Do Not Use Many Buzzwords
Buzzwords and Keywords are picked from the industry by most of us in order to boast of our qualities and qualifications but that’s only going to decrease your credibility. These words are often overused terms and a lot of people throw them in their resumes under the assumption that it speaks highly of them. A few of those terms include:
- Strategic thinker
- Best of breed
- Go-to person
- Problem solving skills
- Hardworking
- Detail-oriented
- Dynamic
- Thinking outside the box
- Happy Go Lucky
Common Mistakes In A Resume To Avoid: # 6 Avoid Ambiguity
When you mention the number of days/months/years of your prior work experience, be exact. Do not say “a few” months or “several months” as it leaves the employer to wonder what exactly you mean by few. State facts and figures as it is because by being ambiguous, the employer is only going to assume that it was made up and he/she won’t be able to find a validation to your statements.
Common Mistakes In A Resume To Avoid: # 7 Avoid Choosing Inappropriate Fonts
In our excitement to make our resumes look good, we want to add multiple fonts to it but you can yourself witness how unprofessional it looks to be doing that. It gives an image to the recruiter that you are not serious about your application and you just want to pass your time. Being professional is always an added advantage.
Conclusion:
We all make mistakes because after all “To err is human”. But “To persevere in error is only the act of a fool”. On that note, do not overlook these common resume mistakes the next time. Be professional and cross-check your resume by giving it to someone else to read. Sometimes, others may find errors that we may have missed out on so make sure you find people to proofread your resume before hitting that send button.
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I have done Bachelor’s in Culinary Arts from India and completed my graduation in the year 2022 .I am 22 years old. After graduation, I have done 1 year paid internship from USA .Now, I would like to take occupational experience and learn culinary skills and also do masters in Culinary arts.How can I find the college n best course / country where I can persue studying further