4 Résumé Mistakes You Can’t Afford to Make

I understand how frustrating, stressful and time consuming it is to search for your next job. Most job seekers (rightfully) complain about being ghosted by companies after they submit their application.?

If you find yourself in this situation, then I encourage you to take a closer look at your résumé.

I’ve reviewed thousands of résumés as a former hiring manager and now as a résumé coach. Here are the 4 most common résumé mistakes I see that really kill your chances for getting interviews and ultimately getting hired.

Mistake No. 1: Describing your job instead of showing your results.

This is a mistake that I see on most résumés, even those with several years of experience.

Your future employer wants to know if you have the expertise and proven ability to do the job for which you are applying. They do not want to know what you were “responsible for” at your previous jobs. They want to see tangible results that you accomplished. In other words, they don’t want to read your job description.

Mistake No. 2: Choosing the wrong résumé template.

Most of the résumé templates being sold online are detrimental to your job search. It’s important to note that your résumé is usually scanned by an applicant tracking system (ATS) before a human ever sees it. The ATS uses bots which can’t read images, graphics, fancy fonts, text boxes or columns of text, elements that are commonly found on Etsy and Canva templates. If the bots can’t read your résumé, then you probably won’t be noticed by recruiters and hiring managers. I explain this in more in my Get Hired Guide on pages 34-35.

Mistake No. 3: Typos and inconsistencies.

Your résumé is the first impression the company has of you. Having a résumé with multiple typos and inconsistencies indicates a lack of attention to detail and leaves an impression that you can’t produce quality work. Remember, companies are flooded with résumés. Hiring managers are looking for any excuse to not pick you so that they can narrow down their list of candidates.

Mistake No. 4: Using an ineffective résumé format.

Choosing the right résumé format will set you up for success. There are three types of résumé formats: reverse chronological, functional and hybrid. Most hiring managers and recruiters prefer the reverse chronological format.

This format will have you include your contact information at the top, followed by your most recent job listed first. After your work experience, you’ll include your education and skills. I created a template for my clients that’s also ATS-friendly.

Don’t Give Up!

The job search is never a smooth process. It’s filled with ups and downs. The best advice I can give you is don’t get discouraged. Keep working hard. Keep improving your résumé with each application you send. You’ve got this!

P.S. -- If you want help correcting these mistakes so you can create a résumé that gets you more interviews, then join me for my upcoming Irresistible Résumé Lab on January 11. I’ll walk you through my exact process that I use to help my clients get more interviews, and ultimately get hired.