Regardless of your level of seniority or work experience, you may need to create or update your resume in order to apply for new employment possibilities.
If you’re looking for general advice on how to write a resume that’s relevant in today’s world, here are some resume writing blunders to avoid in order to land your next interview.
The Most Common Resume Writing Mistakes to Avoid
1. Not Making Proper Use of the ‘Above The Fold’ Section
On average, job hopefuls just 7.4 seconds to make an impression on recruiters. The “Above The Fold” area is critical for grabbing the attention of hiring managers and making a positive first impression.
Typically, candidates do not include these elements in the top part of their resume:
- Use a professional photograph rather than a selfie or a group photograph!
- The section on Contact Information
- The goal of your resume is comparable to your 30-second elevator speech.
You’ll have a hard time finding your ideal job in India if you commit this CV writing blunder. You must summarise your experience and showcase your relevant talents for the position you’re looking for in a short amount of time.
2. Readability Issues
Because companies have limited time to review resumes, readability is critical. The following are some common blunders:
- Too much information
- Information that isn’t relevant
- Instead of utilising bullet points, use paragraph writing.
- avoiding the use of strong language
- Using a typeface that isn’t neat or professional
Keep resumes short and straightforward to read. The stuff you create should be simple. Examine your resume from the standpoint of a potential employer: is it simple to read while being appealing enough to land you an interview?
Know: Interview Questions and Answers for Fresh Graduates
3. Missing Contact Information
In their resumes, job applicants must provide their contact details. It aids in the completion of your resume page, as well as ensuring that your contact information is comprehensive and accurate.
Incomplete contact information tells the company you didn’t proofread your resume. Or, even worse, did you not want them to contact you after the interview?
In any case, failing to offer comprehensive and accurate contact information may kill your chances of securing your ideal job by making you look careless and unprofessional.
4. Using the Wrong Format for a Resume
Choosing the best resume format is a crucial part of laying the groundwork for your CV. Here are some examples of when alternative resume styles should be avoided:
I. Resume with a Timeline
This style is best for jobs that are in the same or related industries. If you’re changing jobs or have a lot of gaps in your work history, a functional or combo resume is a better option.
II. Resume with Purpose
Some industries, such as accounting and engineering, prefer the chronological format towards the end. In this scenario, a CV that emphasises abilities may be ineffective. If you have a mix of expertise and talents, the combination format should be considered.
The combination format is a versatile format that may be used for a variety of employment applications. Before you begin creating your resume, be sure you choose the most appropriate resume format.
5. Your Job Scopes Aren’t Quantifiable
Candidates who just state their activities and responsibilities without quantifying them are making a typical resume writing mistake.
These resumes are not only tedious to read, but they also fail to persuade potential employers that you are the best applicant for the job.
If you want to stand out among the hundreds of other candidates, you’ll need to quantify your experience.
Here are some ideas for improving your job experience:
- “Purchased supplies and equipment for five departments, correctly documented purchases, and cut reconciliation errors in half.”
- “Handled an average of 50 customer support calls each day in a year, reducing wait times by 20% and increasing customer satisfaction by 15%.”
6. Using Informal Phrases and Words
A CV should not be dull, yet professionalism is required when it comes to obtaining your next meal.
We frequently meet candidates with amusing or even offensive email names, which jeopardises their professionalism. A doctor with the email address “careers@jobmajesty.com” would not be hired by a hospital. You get my drift.
What about your interests and hobbies? Words like “sleeping” and “eating” are irrelevant and messy. These little errors may reflect poorly on your professionalism.
7. You Haven’t Proofread Your Resume
The goal of proofreading resumes is to identify and rectify grammatical and spelling mistakes.
If your resume has spelling problems, particularly in the contact information area, you may lose your ideal job.
Imagine applying for your desired job, going through a series of difficult interview questions, then never hearing back from the employer because you misspelt your email address or added a phone number to your cell number.
Regardless of your level of seniority or experience, proofreading is always an important part of the resume-writing process.
8. Resume That Is Too Long For Your Expected Salary
When it comes to resumes, we frequently find individuals that place an excessive amount of emphasis on money. If your resume is already long enough, don’t add a new page only to talk about your wage expectations. Remember to keep the focus on something other than money at first.
Use your CV to demonstrate your enthusiasm and why you are the best candidate for the job. When it comes to your wage package, once you’ve reached the confirmation stage, you’ll have more negotiating leverage.
Remarks at the End
Following the recommendations above, you’ll be well on your way to create a thorough resume for job in India.
Do you need additional assistance with your forthcoming interviews? Our wide library of career and interview ideas on the Job Majesty blog has you covered. Today is the day to ace your job interview!
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