The 5 Most Common Resume Mistakes (According To Recruiters & Hiring Managers)
Mistake #1: Typos, Spelling, and Grammar Mistakes
Nearly 60% of resumes have mistakes, like typos or bad grammar.
Solution:
Check your resume using spell check (in Word or Google Docs), have a friend look it over, and consider hiring a professional editor. It only takes a short time, but it will help you avoid mistakes.
Mistake #2: Long, Boring Summaries
Many resumes have long paragraphs about how you’re a “driven” or “hardworking” person. Hiring managers don’t read these because they are too vague and not helpful.
Solution:
Keep your summary short and use bullet points to highlight your most important achievements. For example, instead of saying “results-driven team player,” say something like: “Increased sales by 20% last year.”
Mistake #3: Overusing Buzzwords
Words like “team player” or “hardworking” are overused and don’t help you stand out.
Solution:
Write clearly and focus on real achievements. Instead of saying “responsible for managing a team,” say “Led a team of 5 to increase revenue by 25% in 6 months.”
Mistake #4: Resumes Longer Than One Page
Most recruiters only spend 6 seconds looking at a resume. If it’s more than one page, they probably won’t read all of it.
Solution:
Keep your resume to one page. Remove anything that isn’t directly related to the job you’re applying for. Focus on your most important work.
More Facts About Resumes
Here are a few more things to know:
- Recruiters spend only 6 seconds looking at your resume.
- 76% of resumes are thrown out if the email address is unprofessional.
- Resumes with a photo are rejected 88% of the time.
- 58% of resumes have typos.
- 75% of resumes are ignored by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) because they don’t include the right keywords.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know the common mistakes, take a moment to review your resume. Fix any errors, make it clear and simple, and focus on your best accomplishments. This will help you stand out and improve your chances of landing the job.
