In the current job market landscape, it has become increasingly important to enhance your resume writing skills. Various factors such as tech layoffs, the rise of AI, the shift to remote work, and the cultural phenomenon of The Great Resignation have caused significant disruption. This emphasizes the need for professionals to familiarize themselves with modern resume standards in order to be prepared for any situation, capitalize on career opportunities, and potentially secure a promotion.
Your resume is a valuable asset that showcases your personal brand as a candidate, and it's crucial to avoid certain pitfalls to present yourself in the best possible light. While common mistakes like spelling and grammar errors are important to avoid, there are five additional mistakes that you should steer clear of when writing or updating your resume.
1. Using Icons: Many companies, including Fortune 500 organizations, utilize Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to manage and sort through candidate applications efficiently. It's essential to ensure that your resume is easily scannable by ATS software if you want to progress to the interview stage. Incorporating icons and design elements, such as representing contact details or showcasing skills, can interfere with the readability of your resume by ATS. To overcome this, maintain a separate resume version with design elements that you can directly share with hiring managers while uploading a plain version for job applications on portals.
2. Lengthy Resume: Your resume should be concise and focused. As a general guideline, if you're a graduate, keep it to one page; if you're a mid-career, limit it to two pages; and if you're a senior executive or manager, three pages at most. Avoid the assumption that you need to include your entire work history. Instead, concentrate on the past 10-15 years of relevant experience tailored to the job requirements. Including irrelevant or outdated experiences could potentially lead to age discrimination.
3. Redundant Phrases: Repeating phrases and words, or using similar phrasing, throughout your work experience bullet points is unappealing to recruiters and hiring managers. Instead of repeating the same phrases for each role, start each bullet point with a different impactful verb. Furthermore, remove redundant sentences and join bullet points when possible to maintain conciseness.
4. Lack of Quantifiable Achievements: Describing your previous roles through bullet points alone can be dull. To make your achievements more compelling, quantify them with numbers. For example, instead of stating that you led customer growth, mention specific percentages or figures that highlight your accomplishments. Demonstrating measurable results helps articulate your value to potential employers.
5. Poor Formatting: Presentation is crucial, as first impressions matter. Review your resume to ensure it is error-free and visually appealing. Check for formatting issues such as inconsistent font sizes and types, excessive white space, and dense paragraphs. Consider how your resume stands out to hiring managers and whether it effectively communicates why you should be hired. Always keep the reader, including ATS software, the employer's time constraints, and your competition, in mind while designing your resume.
By avoiding these five common mistakes, you can create a strong and compelling resume that showcases your skills and experiences, increasing your chances of securing job interviews and career opportunities in this competitive job market.