Most Job Seekers know the obvious Resume mistakes that can cost them their dream job. Resume mistakes such as typos and grammatical errors, lengthy resumes and bad formatting are a common knowledge to most professionals. It is the not so obvious mistakes that are the pitfalls to look out for. When writing your resume, it is important to take note of the following fatal resume mistakes that job seekers make and ways to avoid them.
- Not being thorough with your past job experiences
The fundamental key to landing that job is demonstrating that you are qualified. Describe each past job experience as it relates to what you are applying to. Be sure to answer important questions and look out for the needs of the advertised position and relate how your experiences meet these needs. Having coached many job seekers, the number one mistake many people make is the lack of identifying these questions or needs and demonstrating how they can meet these needs. They therefore miss the opportunity of being called for interviews even though they are more than qualified for these positions.
- Having one resumes for all jobs
When I coach job seekers on resume and job search skills, I always make it a point to make them aware of how important it is to speak a different ‘language’ for each job being applied to. In these days when a hundred and more people are competing with you for the same job, make sure to equip yourself with the best knowledge of resume writing. Seek a resume writing coach who can guide you through the complexities of job search and good resume development. It is a very important investment you need to consider making in order to avoid many months of anguish of guess work and trails and errors.
- Using outdated language and expressions
When I am coaching job seekers, I emphasize on the importance of speaking the language of the recruiter. If English or the language in which you are applying is not your first language, it is very important to have a second or even a third person proof read your resume to help correct things you might have missed. There are various resources available to your disposal. Use these resources to develop your resume and put your best foot forward.
- Ditch the objective section
Regardless of what you might have heard or read in the past about the objective statement, the objective section is obsolete. Including this in your resume only limits your chances and most importantly prevents you from being considered for similar positions should the need arise. I have seen many great resumes fall into this pitfall and precluded themselves from considerations for similar positions. In rare cases, you might get a call from some hiring manager to ask if you were interested in being considered for a similar position. This is very rare considering the immense competition for each advertised position.
- Do not try too hard
Trying too hard with using jargons and cramming key words without making sense. If you can’t understand what you have written in plain language, neither can the hiring personnel. Don’t overdo the key words. It is a great tool to have but do not fall into the temptation of overloading them without giving meaning to what your actual experiences are.
- Being just another resume.
Not standing out from among the crowds with a clearly described experience will leave you in the crowds . You might have done the same techniques, or have the same skills but not aligning those skills with what the employer is looking for will only make your resume just another resume and probably tossed with the other numerous candidates in the dead pool.
- Including so many irrelevant information
It’s a great thing you have worked as a waitress but if you are now applying to a pharmacist position, please refrain from going into details about how many tables you served and how many meals you can cook. If the objective is to mention your customer service qualities, emphasize on that and move on. Don’t use valuable space to talk about the irrelevant things. Focus on the needs of the position and build a strong case.
Learn more about resume and job skill. Good Luck in your job search..
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