When you submit a resume, every tiny detail is crucial. Little slip-ups indicate that you don’t pay attention to the little things, which might prevent you from landing the job you’re after.
Are you making costly mistakes in your resume without realizing it? There are 3 common mistakes that you should check for before you send your resume to a potential employer.
1. Poor Layout
If your resume is messy and disorganized, no one will want to read it. In fact, it’s believed that the average employer only reviews a resume for about 6 or 7 seconds. That means that every second counts. Whatever is on the page needs to be clear and easy to follow.
Canva is a user-friendly graphic design site that has hundreds of great templates for writing a resume. There are even different themes depending on the field of work you are applying for. Artistic careers have more colorful, playful designs, while business-oriented careers host more straightforward formats.
2. Small Typos
Grammar mistakes are a big deal when it comes to professional resumes. Verbal communication is a crucial professional skill, and ignoring typos shows a great lack in your ability to use words to get your point across. Though they seem small, typos give the impression that you’re not careful before you submit something for review.
You can use editing websites such as Grammarly to help you proofread your work. Grammarly can help you revise things like incorrect spelling, poor grammar, weak word choice, and other critical mistakes that contribute to sloppy writing.
3. Too Many Jobs
When applying for a new job opportunity, you only want to include relevant work experience. For example, if you’re applying for a management position, you only want to list jobs that formed you as an effective and efficient leader.
Be careful not to add more work history than is necessary. Your main goal is to prove that you’re the right person for the job, and having too many unrelated details in your resume takes away from that goal. Highlight the jobs you’ve had that affirm the skills needed to thrive in the job you want.