Your first impression on an employer is always going to be the most important. Whether that’s meeting them in person through a network event or sending in your résumé. Let’s talk about the latter, rather than the former. There are so many tiny mistakes you can make on your résumé that can immediately disqualify you from a job. Here are some of the most glaring issues:
Sticking To A Template
If your résumé clearly came from a Microsoft Word or Pages pre-designed template, it already shows a lack of creativeness and ability to do tasks on your own. Get creative and classy in your own way, and make sure that when you do make your own résumé so you don’t have too much or too little awkward white space.
“Responsible For”
Employers want to see your active accomplishments, not things that “technically fall under your job description.” Give them specifics on what you did at your previous jobs, and even in your time off, fill in those gaps with relevant work outside of employment. Additionally, make sure you don’t put a large amount of different jobs in a small period of time, because that shows workers you’re inconsistent.
Buzzwords
Buzzwords are phrases, idioms, or sayings that conform to the jargon of the job you’re applying for, or just happen to be overused at the time. Don’t be overly formal, don’t use too many sloppy phrases, and be yourself. That’s what employers want to see: an accurate representation of you and what you can bring to their company.
Now that you’ve read this, open up that résumé .docx and change it for the better!
