Resumes can be tough. They’re the first impression you can give to any employer. One mistake could be the difference between landing the job and not.
It’s important to avoid any common mistakes that can make or break whether you get the job. Although tedious, double checking and re-reading your essay can be all worthwhile when you finally landed the job you’ve worked all these years for.
Spelling and Grammar
You’d assume with autocorrect, there would be no way anyone would succumb to spelling mistakes. Trust me, it still happens.
Grammar is also another thing to be mindful of. For instance, using the right “there” or “then” as well as “affect vs. effect” are all things you should be mindful of.
To steer clear from these errors, print your resume out and read it over again. You’re much more likely to catch mistakes on paper rather than on your computer. Also, grammar checkers like “Grammarly,” can be a helpful tool along the process.
Structure and Format
How you effectively compose your resume is another important factor in impressing employees. You want your paper to be clear cut and organized. If your resume looks super choppy and is hard to follow when reading, you need to clean up your formatting to make it as legible as possible.
A way to improve your formatting is to look at example resumes online and compare their format with yours. Additionally, reading it aloud to yourself or a friend can help you find any structural problems that you might have missed.
Improper Email Address
You might be wondering what type of email is inappropriate when adding it to your resume. Informal emails such as: hottiedottie@xxxx.com are a no-go.
I know, seems ridiculous. But believe it or not, those have been types of emails put on resumes. Instead, use a professional first and last name email or a one you’d be fine with your potential new boss seeing.
References
Although this isn’t always considered a mistake, you typically don’t want to include references in your resume. However, in the rare occasion that the employers requests you do so, make sure you are prepared to do so.
The reason you must have your references handy is in case your employer requests you provide that sort of information. This usually happens after the first initial interview and further along the hiring process.
Weak References
When choosing who to include as your references in your resume, make sure they are reliable choices and someone that will put in a good word if contacted. For example, a manager, co-worker, professors or high school teachers. You should not include any family members or friends since they will be biased and are going to speak highly of you, which won’t always hold much weight to employers.
Be careful on what past employers you use as references. You might assume they would speak favorably of you, but they don’t necessarily have to. Therefore, be meticulous about who you choose.
All in all, creating a resume doesn’t have to be a painful process. As long as you include all the necessary parts and are careful with spelling and what not to incorporate, you’re good to go! Get that job!