6 Resume Mistakes To Avoid At All Costs

October 22, 2018 Posted by Emily Moore “You only get one shot — do not miss your chance to blow.” Eminem may have been referring to rap battles when he dropped this lyric back in 2002, but he just as easily could have been talking about resumes and the job search. Resumes, after all, are your first chance to show a company what a perfect fit you are for a position — but if done incorrectly, they could also be your last. That’s why it’s absolutely critical to get them right the first time. Otherwise, all the time you spend filling out applications is essentially for naught.

But for every resume mistake, there’s a remedy. We’ve rounded up a few of the most common resume errors that prevent you from moving onto the next round, as well as solutions for how to fix them. It may take some time to tweak, but the payoff is worth it.

1. Telling Instead of Showing

It’s an age-old adage in writing: show, don’t tell. When job seekers simply state how great they are without providing any evidence, they lose credibility in recruiters’ eyes. One common way job seekers do this is by “using buzzwords (strategic, specialized, leadership, experienced, passionate, focused, creative, enthusiastic),” shares career coach Jeanne Patti.

The Fix: “Instead of using these words, demonstrate how you use that skill. It’s a powerful way to share your experiences and what makes you stand out without boring the person on the other end,” says Patti. One common approach is the STAR method — provide the situation, task, action and result of different initiatives you have been involved in, making sure to include specific information like metrics as relevant.

How to Write a Resume 2. Including an Objective

If your college career counselor ever told you to put an objective like “Find an entry-level position in marketing” at the top of your resume, we’re giving you full permission to disregard them. “[One of the biggest mistakes] that I often see in a resume is an objective in lieu of a professional summary. Objectives should not be used in a resume,” says Wendi Weiner, resume writer & career transition coach.

The Fix: Don’t just say you want a job — show recruiters why they should hire you for the job with a professional summary. “Your professional summary should resonate who you are as a professional and the high-caliber skill sets you have to offer,” explains Weiner. “Think of a professional summary as an introduction to the novel about yourself. It should allure the reader and entice him/her with information that will make him/her want to continue on reading to learn more.”

3. Not Customizing Your Resume

When you’re applying to multiple jobs, it’s tempting to use a generic, cookie-cutter resume and blast it out everywhere you’re applying to. But that strategy may end up preventing your resume from getting in a recruiter’s hands at all. “Most resumes are reviewed electronically before a human sees them,” Patti says, and if your resume doesn’t have the keywords specified in the job description, it will likely be overlooked by the software.

The Fix: It may be a pain to create a customized resume for each company, but if you’re truly interested in a position, it’s worth it. “Tailoring each submittal with keywords from the job posting is critical to pass the electronic screening,” Patti says.

4. Focusing on Job Functions Over Results

If your resume reads like the original job description you saw when you applied, it’s time to spice it up. “Most people focus too much on their job tasks/functions to ensure [that] the keywords are in the resume, and fail to devote time to strategically marketing their best skill sets and career wins,” Weiner says.

The Fix: Instead of talking about the day-to-day, describe the big picture impact you had. “The more effective thing to do is to have a separate core skills section and focus your work experience section on results, major contributions and key projects you have worked on at various companies/organizations,” Weiner says. “It is the number one way to distinguish yourself among the hundreds of applicants applying for jobs.”

5. Leaving Out Social Media Links

“Many people aren’t using the presence of social media to their advantage and use their resume as a stand-alone document,” Patti says. But in a constantly connected world where being transparent and informed is critical at every stage of the hiring process, it only makes sense to add links to your professional social media profiles.

The Fix: Give another layer of depth to your resume by linking to relevant, professional social media links. Patti recommends that job seekers “remove your physical address and add your LinkedIn URL. By linking to your updated profile, you will immediately gain credibility through your recommendations and endorsements of your skills and show insight into your personal brand and value,” Patti adds.

Use Social Media to Build a Personal Brand and Stand Out from the Crowd 6. Poor Writing

When it comes to your resume, your experience and career accomplishments are the most important, but how you present that information comes in at a close second. “The way you express yourself on your resume (and in any form of communication) impacts the way others perceive you,” says Angela Copeland, Career Coach. Spelling mistakes, clichés and complex, industry-specific jargon will all count against you.

The Fix: “First, ensure your resume is grammatically correct. Then, be sure that it is worded in a professional manner with a somewhat formal tone. Last, ensure your resume is understandable to someone, even if they don’t work in your industry,” Copeland says. “The easiest way to improve your choice of words is to read your resume out loud to yourself. This can catch many of the potential issues before anyone else sees it. Then, ask a friend or family member who works in another industry to read it. If they find your resume to be confusing, consider updating the wording, so that it’s more clear.”

FACT: No one leaves the interview session without TELLING THEIR STORY. So, be prepared when you enter the room!

INVITATION: I was invited to host a Professional Development and Management Interview Workshop for a medium-size audience, which 75% present were Project Management Consultants.

CASE AND POINT: At the beginning of each interview session one of the most famous questions will arise: "Clarissa, can you tell us a little-bit about yourself, please? (TELL YOUR STORY)

TURNKEY: Your story MUST be convincing and appealing to your audience. In an UPCOMING WORKSHOP I will be discussing this strategy in more details.

ACTION: Follow-me: Learn Lead, Believe and Achieve and everything else falls-in-place!

I Believe You Can…!

CORPORATE AMERICA: Best Business Practices.

Janelle: Ladies,...Karen Shantel, Victoria.

I asked you ladies to come by and review my resume before I submit it next week for a job opportunity. I truly value your input and feedback in getting this right the first-time. Then, based on your positive feedback, I'm confident I can submit this and hear back from my potential client in 3 to 5 days.

What do you think ladies?

I Believe You Can...!

I have a general question about interviews. If you feel like you really messed up during answering questions and now the interview is done you would like to redo it. Should you call back the next day to request another interview and tell them you didn't feel prepared during the questioning yesterday. And would like a chance to talk to them again. What do you think?

Still not sure what to ask? We have some proven examples of good questions to ask during a job interview:

1. Can you tell me more about the day-to-day responsibilities of this job? This is your chance to learn as much as possible about the role so you can decide whether this is a job you really want. By learning more about the day-to-day tasks, you will also gain more insight into what specific skills and strengths are needed and you can address any topics that haven’t already been covered.

2. What do you think are the most important qualities for someone to excel in this role? This question can often lead to valuable information that’s not in the job description. It can help you learn about the company culture and expectations so you can show that you are a good fit.

3. What are your expectations for this role during the first 30 days, 60 days, year? Find out what your employer’s expectations are for the person in this position.

4. Describe the culture of the company. Are you a good fit for this particular organization? Make sure you are comfortable with the culture and the dynamic of the company.

5. Where do you think the company is headed in the next 5 years? If you plan to be in this role for several years, make sure the company is growing so you can grow with the company.

6. Who do you consider your top competitor, and why? You should already have an idea of the company’s major competitors, but it can be useful to ask your interviewer for their thoughts. Naturally, they will be able to give you insight you can’t find anywhere else.

7. What are the biggest opportunities facing the company/department right now? This question shows your drive to seize opportunity and may help you learn more about where the company will be focusing over the next several months.

8. What are the biggest challenges facing the company/department right now? On the flip side, you may want to ask about challenges. This question can help you uncover trends and issues in the industry and perhaps identify areas where your skills could save the day.

9. What do you like best about working for this company? Ask about your interviewer’s personal experience for additional insight into the company’s culture.

10. What is the typical career path for someone in this role? This question can help you learn whether the company promotes from within, and how career advancement works within the organization. By asking the question, you show your interest in growing with the organization — just be careful not to phrase it in a way that sounds too self-serving (i.e. When can I expect a raise and a promotion?).

11. How do I compare with the other candidates you’ve interviewed for this role? This is a slightly risky choice. You don’t want to put the interviewer in an awkward position. However, if things are going well and you’ve built a strong rapport, this question can help you see if there are any concerns or issues that you could address to show why you’re the best person for the job.

12. What are the next steps in the interview process? This question shows that you are eager to move forward in the process. It will also help you gain important information about the timeline for hiring so that you can follow up appropriately.

Remember: Don’t ask about salary or benefits just yet. Wait until you are in the final steps of the interview process to negotiate with the hiring manager or an HR representative.

You’ve made it to the interview, and all that’s standing between you and your dream job is the hiring manager—but winning him over may be easier said than done. So what will it take to make him like you? Well, one thing you can do is avoid annoying him.

• When you don’t understand the company or product.

There’s nothing a hiring manager hates more than wasting time, and you will definitely be seen as a waste of time if you don’t understand the company or the product. It’ll show that you’re not even doing the basic research you need for the interview. Why should they even consider you if you’re not putting forward the effort? It’ll seem like you don’t have any passion for or interest in the company, which is one of the biggest pet peeves of any hiring manager.

• When you don’t ask questions.

When you don’t ask questions, it shows disinterest and lack of effort. It looks like you're just looking for any job. Anyone can make up good answers to an interview question, but the hiring manager wants to see how you think and what you care about. You should prepare in advance several good questions that you want to ask at the interview. Questions like "What is the ideal person for the position I'm applying for" and "Is there opportunity for advancement into management for a person in this position," are good examples.

• When you’re too persistent.

Persistence is an admirable trait, but be careful not to go overboard. A little persistence is good. After the interview, a follow-up email is fine. But emailing multiple times a week, stopping by the company’s headquarters, and reaching out to every employee you can find on LinkedIn can seem desperate and annoying, and that won't get you hired.

• When you don’t follow directions.

The job listing says to email and not call or maybe that a cover letter is required. Follow those instructions to a T, because if you can’t follow simple directions, it’s likely that your application will be rejected.

• When you get the company’s name wrong in your application materials.

You’ll be surprised how often candidates mess this up in their applications. If you’re sending your resume to a lot of places, you may accidentally copy and paste the wrong company name. “Nothing gets a cover letter tossed in my trash faster than seeing another publication’s name in the ‘to’ field,” said a hiring manager.

• When you don’t include links for easy reference.

Hiring managers will appreciate the little details that make the process easier for them. One hiring manager advised, “If you mention your portfolio, a website, or your social media profiles, make it easy for me to view them! I want to read more about you and see what you can do, but I’m not going to spend time digging for it myself if you don’t include it.”

• When you don’t follow up after an interview.

This seems like an obvious step, but a lot of people don’t follow up after an interview. At the very least, said one hiring manager, send a quick and simple thank you, although a thoughtful follow-up referencing something from your discussion is very much preferred.

• When you make up an answer.

You may be startled by an unexpected question, but don’t resort to making up an answer. First of all, your interviewer can probably tell, and secondly, he or she will not be impressed. Take some time to think before crafting your answer. If you don't understand the question, it is fine to ask your interviewer to re-phrase the question.

• When you’re too casual.

You may get along with the hiring manager, but remember that you should always still be professional even if the company culture seems casual. “Keep emails professional and always include greetings and sign-offs, not just one-liners sent from your phone, and present yourself as poised and confident but not overly familiar in your interviewer,” advised one hiring manager.

I am a mature outside sales rep struggling to get a job in Phoenix..I moved to AZ a year ago from Chicago and am starting to think it wasn't my best idea. Anyway, as a rep and owner of a business, I thought surely I have something to bring to the table, when selling to potential small local business owners. I made it through the first phone interview and was invited to attend the "Live in Person," final interview. HR sent me an email explaining I would need to bring a couple copies of my resume and to "dress professionally. I showed up for my interview and was met by a young manager wearing shorts, tshirt and opened toe sandals. After a half hour of the usual interview questions, I went to a "shadow Session" with one of the inside sales people. It was obvious, the poor guy, no one told him I was coming. It was a brutal half hour as the desks are on top of each other and not very clean, it smelled awful and it was hard to concentrate on anything, as the inside sales staff were shooting spit balls at each other, and then into a rubber band fight. I wanted to run for my life but, before I knew it another manager in shorts and a t-shirt LOL took me down the hall for another interview full of not very thought out interview questions. We all shook hands and I left.. What am I saying here? I am so grateful that I suit up and show up for these practice interviews. I learn something about myself each time. In this case, I'd rather drive nails up my arms, then work for Groupon......Not judgin, Just sayin...

In a internet interview I had the other day I was asked what my idea of success was. To be frank, my idea of success is getting to the place where I don't have to worry about my needs in life. I think that if you have everything you need you can handle your wants. But new to this kind of interview was a change for me where I see myself talking, but have no way of knowing how the company felt of my responses am left in awe. But atleast I made it to the interview stage. If I didn't do well, thats a lose, an gain because now I have knowledge an a little experience wth the interview proccess. And I think I'll be more prepared next time.

How do you answer the interview question " what is your weak point?" I feel everyone has weak points to be improved on but what do you say?

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