Recruiters may sort through dozens (if not hundreds) of resumes every day. Though they may not spend a great deal of time reading each one, there certain elements they are attuned to looking for, and things that they become tired of seeing. If you want your resume to stand out for the right reasons, here are some common mistakes to avoid:
Careless Errors
When you have basic spelling and grammar mistakes on your resume, it’s a big turnoff to recruiters and raises some red flags about your work ethic. Did you simply not care enough to double-check your work? Are you really as “detail-oriented” as your resume claims?
What recruiters love: Polished resumes that read well, offer clear information, and are free from errors. If spelling and grammar aren’t your strong suit, ask a friend to review or look into online tools to help.
Unprofessional Content
There is no need to add your picture, hobbies, or other personal information on your resume. If you have an AOL or Hotmail email address that you’ve been using since college, it’s probably time to upgrade. An employer doesn’t want to see ‘surferdudeXXX’ or ‘tennischick99’ in your contact information, nor do they care that you love fly fishing or yoga (unless it’s directly related to the job).
What recruiters love: A clean, neutral resume that doesn’t open itself up to potential discrimination. Also, register for a professional email address such as Gmail and make your handle some variation of your name.
An Objective Statement
Your objective is obviously to get the job for which you are applying. A recruiter isn’t interested in the fact that you want a position where you can use your “knowledge, training, and experience to help the company grow.” That tells them nothing about your abilities and why you’re a good fit for the role.
What recruiters love: A strong summary that highlights your key skills and what you bring to the table. It should be aligned with the position you are applying to and give the recruiter a glimpse into what you are capable of achieving. Complement this with a solid list of core competencies.
Vague Descriptions
“Responsible for” is one of the worst lines you can use on your resume. Skip the list of tasks and responsibilities. Avoid generic statements like, “Managed department budget” that offer no context or proof of a job well done.
What recruiters love: Results- or action-oriented statements that include metrics. Give dollar amounts, percentages, and other figures whenever possible to quantify results. Don’t just say you made a difference; show how!
Distracting Fonts or Formatting
When you go overboard with the creativity, it looks like you’re trying to distract from lack of experience or other issues. Keep in mind that text boxes, graphics, and fancy fonts are often stripped by applicant tracking systems (ATS) anyway, so you may be doing more harm than good and wasting your time.
What recruiters love: A simple, straightforward format and font that are easy to read and understand.
You want your resume to clearly demonstrate your skills, accomplishments, and potential, and if you’re making a lot of errors when it comes to formatting or content, chances are, your resume is not working to your advantage. Position yourself as effectively as possible for the roles you want with help from Search Solution Group. Contact us today to get started.
