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In
a survey, more than 2,500 employers from a variety of organisations and industries were asked what they saw in resumes that they thought were pitfalls. They listed 20 major as well as minor ones. The major ones are given below. You should steer clear of them to make your resume effective and error free. Spelling errors, typos badly reflect on your caliber. Of course, even if you use spell-check you may not catch every mistake. “Manger” is a correctly spelled word, but it means something very different from “manager”. Be sure to pay close attention to buzzwords related to your field. They can catch you unawares. An aspiring greenhorn journalist may mix up date-line and dead-line. Employers know what the job is. Your resume should highlight your own accomplishments for the position you are aspiring for. Don’t launch on a mini essay on the job description to impress that you know. Employers want to know when you worked, where you worked and an understanding of your working history. Missing dates, especially for long periods of time, can spend up a red flag, and the resume may be discarded. Include specific spells in months and years for every position. If you have gaps, explain them either in your cover letter or introduction. You write a resume for one reason: to get a call. How can someone contact you if the phone number is missing or a digit or your email address is incorrect? A small leak can sink a ship! Make sure your resume has your correct contact information, including name, phone number, email address and street address. No one will look you up. They will move on to the next candidate. Avoid things that cause confusion. Different typefaces can cause confusion. Keep your resume in plain text. Too much ornamentation is distractive. Focus on the skills and accomplishments that pertain to the job you are seeking. Do mention the top-most qualification in the beginning. Deliver the punchline first. Gaps in work or education should be suitably explained. Not glossed over, hoping employers too would blink away. Bear in mind Murphy’s law — If things can go wrong, they will! Every word counts; so do not dwell on the specifics of each job, but on the highlights specific to you. Padding increases verbiage without adding to the substance. You want a job, but if you do not have the skills or experience needed, employers feel you are wasting their time. Look carefully at the job description. Highlight the skills they are looking for with a bulleted list of your related qualifications at the top of the document. Hit the bull’s eye. With the limited time employers spend on your resume; don’t distract them with trifles unless they directly relate to the job. Add spice to the resume where you can. If you are not good at writing, consult a specialist. Resume mirrors your job personality.
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