A well-written resume is the key to project your skills and highlight your qualification in front of the interview board. While it is deceivingly easier to make silly mistakes in a resume, it is incredibly difficult to mend the damage caused. As such, prevention is your only way out, whether you are preparing the very first resume of your career or simply revising it. There are certain pitfalls of resume writing that can literally take away the job you always aspired for. Here’s how to avoid them:
#1: Mind the Start – Career Objective Statement is a Bygone
Way back, resumes without a career objective statement didn’t hold any value. Pupils were forced to start their resume with a nicely written statement that depicted their vision. However, times have changed and, there’s no scope of such statements any more.
Hiring managers suggest that such statements are irrelevant for preliminary screening. Initially, you have to pass through the screening, which will then lead you to the next stage and you can elaborate on your goals and objectives.
#2: Adding Job Titles
It is best to avoid adding peculiar job titles to your resume. Most of the times, these titles actually damage your resume and leaves you behind in the league of fellow aspirants.
Job titles usually lack context, which makes your résumé fall flat. Since resumes are posted in job sites, being keyword specific or generic is a better way to present yourself. For instance, a query for “associate editor” will get better response than “writing guru.”
#3: Overwhelming Work History
Recruiters, on an average, spend 6 second to review a resume. So, it’s best to keep your resume concise, crisp and to-the-point, not longer than one page, especially for fresher. Including pages after pages dedicated to your work history can only become overwhelming.
#4: Unexplained Employment Gaps
Big career gaps should be pointed out in short. Whether you had to take a break for personal reasons or leisure, describe in one word.
#5: Specifics Gone Wrong
If your resume lacks specifics, it’s just an ordinary piece of writing. Emphasize on your accomplishments, not roles and duties. Recruiters aren’t interested in menial duties and tasks. Specify the output.
#6: Grammatical Errors and Typos
Recruiters will simply ignore resumes with typos and grammatical errors. Use the spell check feature and grammar checkers to make sure it’s perfect. Also, have at least 2 people to proofread the document.
#7: Getting the Wrong Format
The format of your resume is a decisive factor. Surprisingly, up to 75 percent of all qualified applicants get rejected because of incorrect format of their resume. Always use.txt or.doc format for resume, not.pdf files. Avoid using tables and graphics. Upload the resume as an attachment rather than typing it. Use relevant keywords to make sure it is visible when searched.
#8: Not Giving Correct Contact Details
If you don’t give your correct contact details, employers will never be able to find you. Always provide your contact number, email id and postal address.
#9: Promising Reference upon Request
This is the most obvious thing that need not be stated. Don’t add words to the resume by including such points.
#10: Sharing Personal Information
You cannot breach the confidentiality rule while writing your resume. It is not impressive at all. Any personal information related to your past job cannot fetch you another one.
[ad_2]Source by Tanya Deb
