On average, recruiters spend just six seconds reviewing the resume they receive. To make a good impression, your resume should be clear, segmented, and easy to read. It’s also important to avoid common mistakes that can lead to your resume landing right in the “rejected candidates” box. Advantus provides a list of the most common mistakes that can “put off” HR professionals and tips on how to get an invitation to a job interview.
Mistake no. 1: grammar mistakes
A single typo can ruin the opinion of your resume. Although errors are common, they indicate that: a) time was not taken to review the description provided, or b) corrections were made but the errors were not caught. Both cases do not increase the attractiveness of your application to potential employers.
To avoid grammatical and spelling mistakes, we recommend having at least one, or even better, several other people review your resume. Look for people with good editing skills to carefully review the resume you’ve created.
It is also important to ensure the consistency of the tense form – only use the present tense form to describe the duties of the current workplace.
Mistake no. 2: your resume is longer than one page
Although it may take some time to find good formatting, it is important to fit your resume to one page. Even with a decade or more of professional experience, the key is to highlight the most relevant experience in past roles that would be relevant to the position you are applying for.
The one-page rule may seem trivial, but it encourages focus. By using a one-page format, you force yourself to write concisely and present only the most important points. Employers review many resumes, so being able to efficiently review all of the most important information on one page to determine a candidate’s suitability for the role they are looking for is critical.
Mistake no. 3: you don’t tailor your resume to every job you apply for
Tailoring your resume to each position you apply for is a really tedious job when you are applying to the various positions on offer. But it’s a task that will definitely pay off big. A general resume reveals to the employer that you send the same resume when applying for various job positions, and this particular job offer may not even have seemed particularly interesting or suitable for you.
When tailoring your resume to a specific job, start by carefully reviewing the job posting. What requirements are important? Are there any frequently mentioned required skills? What aspects of the responsibilities directly relate to your experience and skills?
After analyzing the job offer and its requirements, adjust your resume so that the most important experience is visible at the top of the page. Even if it is your first work experience after you just finished your studies, or what kind of certificate is necessary for this job – if it is important for this job offer, give it priority when describing your experience. Chronological order is not mandatory; encourage the employer to notice your relevant experience first.
Mistake no. 4: use of subjective properties
Have you used these or similar descriptions of subjective characteristics in your resume?
- Excellent communication skills
- Creative personality
- I work well in a team
- Strong leadership skills
If so, get rid of them! These boilerplate words saturate resumes and their authenticity is entirely subjective. While you may in fact have excellent communication skills or be a strong leader, these claims are often made without any evidence of their truth. To support these qualities, include experiences that support these claims.
Employers often ignore subjective statements and jargon in resumes. They look for facts, digital achievements and evidence to support your claims. To decide what to include on your resume, consider which of your accomplishments demonstrate leadership, work ethic, or other desired qualities.
Mistake no. 5: skip the resume objective / summary
Think of the resume objective / summary as an ultra-short letter of your focus. This is a short section of your resume that describes your interest in a specific role, your qualifications, and your potential contributions to the company.
Although this is a very short text, this section highlights your confidence, communication skills and writing skills, qualities that are highly valued by HR managers. It’s also an opportunity to tailor your resume to a specific job and employer, and it’s an opportunity to provide praise.
Here is a sample resume objective:
I have successfully managed operations in large manufacturing companies for twenty years. I am looking to apply my communication, organizational and interpersonal skills to bring positive change to your business and my career through implemented proven structured strategies.
Have you avoided these mistakes in your resume? If you are ready to start looking for a job, check out the wide range of job positions we offer!
