5 Epic Resume Mistakes

1. Typos & Grammatical Errors

This is the biggest mistake made on resumes! Fortunately, spell check corrects words that are misspelled but it won’t correct the WRONG word being used. For instance, saying: “Sort and distribute male to multiple departments” would immediately raise a red flag that you don’t pay attention to detail.

Grammatical errors are common due to not being familiar with the rules. Always have someone else review your resume several times before sending it out. Another option is to submit your resume to a Staffing Agency; they will thoroughly review your resume and even provide suggestions.

2. Outdated Experience

Knowing how to operate Windows 95-98 or your proficiency level in MS Office 2000 is not something to brag about – Let it go!  This information makes you look irrelevant and behind in the times.  You should include software that is relevant to the job you want and stay updated on the newer versions.

3. No Direction

Since you don’t have much time to impress an employer with your resume, you should make those few seconds memorable.  Your resume is a marketing tool and should be all about the job you’re applying for.  Sending your amazing sales resume for an accounting job will land your resume in the trash!

4. Information Overload

You don’t need to put EVERYTHING in your resume- the reader should want to know more. That’s why they’re calling you in for an interview! Paraphrase your work experience and explain the rest in detail during the interview.  Also, you only need to document the last 10 years of your experience unless your previous jobs are relevant or you worked for an amazing company like Google or Apple.

5. One Resume Fits All

Employment ads are not identical and your resume shouldn’t be either! Whether you wrote your own resume or contacted a Professional Resume Writer, never apply to every job with the same exact resume!  There’s nothing wrong with having a blueprint resume but the summary should be tailored to fit the job you’re applying for.

Hiring a Professional Resume Writer would help you avoid many of these common mistakes that could happen when writing your own.  Find out how Dragon Careers can help you avoid these pitfalls, and more!