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Last Updated on December 23, 2024
Most people don’t enjoy putting together a resume. Writing about yourself is rarely easy, and it can be even harder when you have to “sell yourself” by highlighting your accomplishments.
As a result, people often either toss a resume together quickly without much thought or obsess over every little detail. Either approach can lead to including information that no employer really wants to read.
How bad is it? Resumes are often riddled with errors, so much so that CareerBuilder holds an annual survey of the Most Outrageous Resume Mistakes Employers Have Found. Most mistakes in the application process occur on resumes. The worst part about including unnecessary information or errors is that your resume might be the only thing a potential employer sees. Why? Because no one wants to interview someone who can’t even get their resume right. Here are some of the most common mistakes to avoid.
What This Article Covers
- Why writing a clear and professional resume is crucial for landing interviews.
- Common mistakes people make, such as including unnecessary personal interests or hobbies.
- Guidelines for listing education correctly and avoiding irrelevant details.
- Why objectives are outdated and how to replace them with impactful summaries.
- The importance of omitting salary expectations and how to handle this discussion during interviews.
- How to handle resume gaps effectively and make your experience seamless.
- Why including “References available upon request” is unnecessary clutter.
- Tips on tailoring
your resume to highlight relevant skills and meet job-specific requirements.
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Including your interests and hobbies:
A resume is meant to showcase your work experience and education, not your weekend hobbies. However, people often include information about their interests, like basket weaving, swimming, or going to the movies. The common justification is that it shows they are a well-rounded person. In reality, you should only include hobbies or interests if they are professionally relevant. For example, mentioning your interest in swimming is appropriate if you are applying for a job as a physical trainer.
Listing all of your primary education schools:
If you’re a high school student and you’re applying for a job at a local retail chain, include your high school under education. You can even note any amazing accomplishments you’ve had there if you want, but you don’t need to. There’s no reason to ever list your middle and grade school information. If you’re a
Writing an objective:
Objectives on resumes were once prevalent (and somewhat expected). Whether or not to include an objective is a bit of a bone of contention, but the general consensus is to leave this out. Having one is an old idea and just adds clutter to
Having salary expectations:
Most experts will tell you to avoid discussing salary requirements during an interview until the last interview round. It does not make any sense to include this information on
Dating things besides your work history and education:
It’s recommended to include dates for your education and work experience on your resume. Extracurricular activities in
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Leaving gaps:
Gaps in
Saying “References are available upon request”:
People think they are covering their bases by adding this, but it’s just more unnecessary clutter. You don’t need to tell a prospective employer that you will allow them to see your references if they ask – that’s an expectation! This isn’t quite as bad as actually listing your references on
Remember, your resume is the first thing a prospective employer will see and in order to sell yourself, it should be presented in as concise a manner as possible. This means sticking to a single page in most situations (unless you have more than ten years of experience) and not wasting their time with information they won’t care about. Spend your time tailoring
Final Words
Avoiding common resume mistakes can significantly enhance your chances of landing an interview. By focusing on clarity, relevance, and professionalism, you can create a resume that effectively highlights your qualifications and makes a strong impression on potential employers. Remember,
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