Career experts at Harvard have recently revealed that there are two main reasons people aren’t getting jobs today.
And the first reason is you are not Landing job interviews. You’re applying for a bunch of jobs sending out your resume and you believe that you do have the skill set required, but you aren’t hearing back.
I hate to say this to you but the problem is your resume sucks.
The second reason according to Harvard Business Review is you’re getting interviews but they don’t go anywhere.
Let us delve into the common resume mistakes that you can avoid to help you land your dream job. Crafting a resume can be a daunting task especially when you have to apply to many jobs, or you are still in the beginner phase of your career.
I understand it can be quite challenging and very stressful but there are some common mistakes that if you avoid it will take your application to the next level and help you stand out from other applicants.
Your resume is the first thing a hiring manager or a potential employer would see before they decide to hire you.
And your resume has to stand out. It has to be catchy, do something to the hiring manager or the recruiter for them to even call you back.
1. Grammatical and Spelling Errors
The most obvious is your grammatical error and spelling error which shows the recruit how well you can communicate effectively.
It’s very easy for you to sign up on Grammarly or put your resume on Google Docs to scan through and use the spell checkers to make sure that there are no errors there. Sometimes you find people misspelling words, double spacing and all. Some of these grammatical errors and spelling issues can affect your chances of even getting shortlisted.
So make sure you take some time even before you apply for the job, to have a first and second glance through your document. You can also get someone else to take a look at the resume for you. Have them do that to make sure that there are no spelling or grammar errors in there.
A simple typo can make a negative impression to an employer that you’re not someone who pays attention to detail. So you want to make sure that you’re checking that.
2. Specifying Tasks and Duties Instead of Accomplishments
For most employees, there are chances that you do a lot more than what you do. You want to ensure you’re using action verbs to word your accomplishments. Don’t just highlight all your duties in your resume.
Make sure that you’re selecting the ones that are applicable or relevant to the job that you’re applying for, and add relevant work experience be it internship or volunteer Shing experience especially if you are still in the entry-level phase of your career.
Avoid including irrelevant information that doesn’t showcase your skill set, doesn’t put you out, or doesn’t even help your application. Some recommended action verbs I like to use are things like “transform”, “strategize”, “initiated”, “spearheaded”, etc. These are some simple action verb that shows that you’re someone who can take initiative and that you’re not an existing team member. So use those action verbs to explain your accomplishments and construct them in a way that would seem attractive to a potential employer.
While speaking about experience, you need to put your work experience above your education because some employers don’t particularly care about your education. They might want to know for some specific role but your work experience speaks volumes so put your work experience above your education. Your education can come right after your work experience.
3. Unprofessional Email Address
Next is to be mindful of the kind of email addresses you use. Find an email address that consists of your first and last name, if you have to add a number to the end. You want to make sure your email address is as simple as possible, can be easily remembered and doesn’t come off as unprofessional or inappropriate.
4. Tailor Your Resume to the Specific Job Role
Sometimes you should focus on quality rather than quantity. Especially if you are already at the growing stage of your career. You are not in your entry-level stage anymore, you’re now trying to pick the kind of jobs you’re applying for. You have to focus on making sure that the package is being done right. Make sure that you tailor your resume based on the job description or the job requirements.
Present your work experience to highlight the achievement that you have from your prior work experience, and tailor it to the role that you are applying for in the job description for the one that you’re currently applying for. Trust me a one-for-all resume would not work today.
My recommendation would be to have a master resume and then tailor it to different parts, so that every time you want to apply, you can make changes to it.
5. ATS Check
Lastly, make sure your resume passes the ATS check. You can go on a website called jobscan.co (free for you to sign up). You can get the pro version and they give you for about 2 weeks.
It will tell you where there is not a match like how many percentages match your application or your resume for that job. You also see where you can make changes to your CV and it helps you highlight those parts that are not detailed enough or need some adjustments.
Conclusion
In conclusion, as the job market evolves in 2024, it’s crucial to steer clear of these five common resume blunders. By prioritizing clarity, relevance, and professionalism, job seekers can position themselves as strong candidates in an increasingly competitive landscape.
Remember, your resume serves as your first impression to potential employers, so take the time to craft a polished document that effectively showcases your skills and experiences. By avoiding these mistakes, you’ll enhance your chances of landing that coveted job opportunity.