Often, your resume will be the first contact you make with a potential employer. It’s an opportunity to showcase your experience, skills and expertise.
Employers can receive hundreds of resumes. How can you stand out and avoid being placed in the ‘no thanks’ pile?
- Spelling mistakes
Not everyone loves spelling and not everyone is good at it. However not paying attention to your spelling can appear sloppy and as if you’re disinterested. Most document creation programs have spell check – so take advantage of it. Also have someone else read your work. It can be difficult to spot your own mistakes. Have a fresh pair of eyes proofread your resume before you hit send.
- Exaggerating your experience
Of course, you want to show your potential employer how fantastic you are, but there’s no need to stretch the truth. Many employers will be able to detect when something sounds far-fetched. Be honest and highlight your strengths by focusing on the success you have had. Point out your achievements and skill-set.
- Long-winded and over detailed
Put yourself in the shoes of the employer. They will have many resumes to consider. Make a great impression by keeping your resume to no more than three pages. Resumes should be easy to read. Learn how to summarise your experience and keep it relevant to the role you are applying for. You can always go into more depth during the interview stage.
Resumes are a powerful tool for getting the job you want. It’s worth putting in the effort to make sure it’s the best it can be. Ask friends and family to read over the whole document and ask for their feedback.
