Resumes. The word inspires fear and insecurity in the hearts
of job seekers everywhere: What do I put on it? What do I leave
out? How should it be formatted?
Looking at that blank sheet of paper, knowing you have to sell
yourself to complete strangers, is disconcerting at best and
terrifying at worst.
Helpful Hints
A resume should be filled with academic, work, and activity
experiences that convey a sense of your skills and potential. It
should be well constructed, clear, and free of mistakes.
Easy, right? Not exactly. Top recruiters report seeing simple,
basic mistakes all the time regardless of candidates'
backgrounds, education, or experience. This shows that many
candidates just do not take the time to properly prepare even the
most basic resume.
The Most Common Resume
Mistakes
Typos: Don't rely on spell checkers to catch mistakes.
Double check every part of your address as well. You'd be amazed
at how many people reverse digits in their phone numbers or zip
codes!
Grammatical errors: Just because everything is spelled
correctly doesn't mean that everything is used correctly. If
you're not absolutely positive, look it up!
Inconsistent formatting: Did you bold one header but
forget to do another? Do all your tabs line up? Employers look at
your resume as a writing sample that you've had time to polish
and proofread. It should be flawless.
Missing information: People sometimes forget to list
something as critical as their phone number or the name of the
school they are attending.
Wrong paper: You want your resume to be read-why make
it difficult? Stick to white or cream-colored paper. Many
companies will photocopy or scan your resume. Dark or textured
paper won't reproduce well, if at all.
Remember, even the most careful and thorough person can make
mistakes—it's always best to get a second pair of eyes to look at
your resume before sending it. Ask your roommate, friends,
family, professor... anyone who you can trust to give you an
honest critique.
