You probably think your resumé is pretty great. Most people do. But are you making any of these typical mistakes? Learn the common pitfalls and start showing yourself off.

  1. You assume your resumé will be read by someone who cares
    Resumés are like elevator pitches. Unless you’re applying through a good friend, assume that you have a very limited opportunity to make an impression with your resumé. Whoever (or whatever – sometimes it’s a software program) is reading your resumé is not going to filter through everything you write to find possible connections with the job you are applying for. Don’t hide your strengths between the lines. Unapologetically make your qualities and skills stand out.

  2. You have a standard resumé that you use for all applications
    No one wants to hear about your extended experience working in retail when you want to get a desk job. Even if that’s all the experience you have, tailor your job duties to highlight skills that are transferrable to your dream position. For example, you had to sort through piles of clothes, style other items, and deal with customers. Really, you were using organizational skills and having to juggle multiple priorities while ensuring your clients’ needs were met. This principle goes for any type of position you apply for. Read the advertisement carefully, and insert exactly the key words they quote (e.g. teamwork, detail orientation, initiative) into your resumé.

  3. You aren’t consistent in style and/or grammar
    There is really no excuse for having grammar errors with all the tools out there like Grammarly and good old spell check. If you don’t take the time to ensure your resumé is solid, what does that say about you as a worker? Similarly, stick with the same way of presenting information such as dates of your experience. If you start off with Jan 2018 – June 2019; your next entry should be the same. Switching to numbers for months or just using the year makes is messy and makes you look indecisive and indecisive. Your resumé should be aesthetically pleasing, so don’t change fonts every paragraph (max 2) and make sure there is enough ‘negative’ space (blank areas) so that your document doesn’t seem too busy or crowded.

Don’t be lazy – get a friend to look over your resumé, or better yet, let us review it and spruce it up.