Typical Resume Writing MistakesMist

Typical Resume Writing Mistakes
Mistake # 1
People summarize, water-down,and oversimplify their responsibilities and accomplishments. The result is the potential employer thinks "this person is lazy and doesn't do very much".

Mistake # 2
People write about themselves creating an autobiographical document. The resume should be an advertisement addressing the needs of the potential employer reading the resume.The employer should be thinking "wow, this person has exactly what I am looking for" as they read the resume.

Mistake # 3
People use hard to read and confusing formats. A potential employer will spend approximately 20 seconds scanning each of the 50-100 resumes in front of them. An an easy-to-read format enables them to read your whole resume in that 20 seconds.
Mistake # 4
People provide more detail and depth in the job descriptions of older jobs than their present job. The employer that feels your career peaked and is declining will interview other candidates.

Mistake # 5
People submit resumes with spelling errors, grammatical errors, and formatting inconsistencies. The potential employer will say a person representing themselves this poorly on paper will not hesitate to represent the company equally poor.
Mistake # 6
Important information that the potential employer is looking for is buried in the text or layout. Prioritize the information that the employer seeks and simplify or omit information of minimal interest to the employer.
How to Type a Resume

Organization
• Use action words to describe skills, completed tasks, job responsibilities.
• Expect to write more than one draft.
• Quantify with numbers, dollar amounts and percentages whenever possible (For example, "Organized event for 200 people which raised $2,000 for club charity fund raiser").
• Be brief, concise and action-oriented.
• Use bullets to set off each major idea.
Appearance
• Error-proof your resume.
• Spelling, punctuation, typing errors, erasures, and correction fluid marks will screen you out from being considered for an interview.
• Use bond paper in white, eggshell or cream with black print.
• Be sure to leave plenty of margin space (approximately 3/4 to one inch).
• Better to use two pages than to squeeze everything on one page.
• Use standard print style for easy reading.
• Use letter quality or laser printers. Photocopies should be sharp and clean. Black spots, smudges or shadows are not acceptable.
• Special effects are primarily used for the creative industries of public relations, advertising, marketing and the media. Others should be conservative in nature.
Content
• It is unnecessary to put the word "Resume" at the top of the page.
• Listing job objectives can be restrictive. Your objective may be to get an interview for every job for which you qualify.
• Continuing education, certifications, company training workshops and licenses are included in the Education segment.
• DO NOT include personal characteristics (height, weight, age), gender, religion, marital status, health, number of children or organizations considered controversial.
• DO NOT include salary requirements or reasons for leaving a job.
• DO NOT include references in a resume.
• Never send a resume without a personalized cover letter.
• Avoid the use of the word "I".
• Avoid jargon and exaggeration.
• Do not use a nickname on the resume.