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Top 10 Resume Mistakes to Avoid

The quickest way to get screened out as an applicant is to submit a seriously flawed resume. Here are the most common resume mistakes and tips on how to avoid them.

Top 10 Resume Mistakes

1.Misspellings and grammatical errors are killers
Spell check and proofread. Then have your document reviewed by a career coach, a friend or family member. It’s hard to catch your own mistakes, so having someone else read your resume for you will help. Reading it
out loud is another option for catching mistakes.

2.Not including keywords from the job posting
Your resume should include the same keywords that appear in the job listing. If your resume doesn’t have the right keywords, it most likely won’t get noticed because you won’t fit for the job.

3.An outdated resume will make you look obsolete
You should update your resume for each new job. Be sure to rewrite your skills section as well as your work history. Check to be sure that the computer and other skills you list are current.

4.Including too much information
Don’t tell your readers everything about each job. Focus on the highlights and keep your document 1-2 pages
in cases outside of academic research settings. Use bullets and short paragraphs. Limit it to 10-15 years of work experience.

5.Writing a resume objective which doesn’t match the job
Avoid using an objective statement that doesn’t correspond well with the focus of the job. Many job seekers
now leave an objective off their resume or use a profile instead. If you include either, make sure it underscores your interest in the type of work for which you are applying.

6.Including a career summary that doesn’t match the job requirements
Don’t use a mismatched summary of qualifications at the top of your resume. Your key assets in the summary should match many of the key job requirements. Leave anything else off.

7.Writing position descriptions that don’t show what you’ve accomplished
Avoid job descriptions which simply list your duties or responsibilities. Instead write active statements which showcase relevant skills and accomplishments. Make sure the employer can easily see how you added value
to your role.

8.Leading your paragraphs with mundane or irrelevant duties
Start with the hardest hitting statement which shows that you have key skills related to the job at hand. Otherwise your reader might just skim by that description.

9.Not listing your accomplishments
Avoid empty, self-congratulatory phrases by quantifying accomplishments or providing other concrete evidence to support your assertions.

10.Being too modest
Share any awards or recognition you have received in a matter-of-fact manner (i.e. promoted to associate director after increasing annual donations by 25%).

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