Most Common Resume

Let's talk about resumes. Specifically, the most common mistakes that show up on them. And these aren't the kind of mistakes that are glaringly obvious, like misspelled words or bad grammar (though, let's be real, if you're still leaving typos on your resume, that's a whole different problem). I'm talking about the things people include, or leave out, that seem harmless but could actually be holding you back.

First, there’s the laundry list problem. This is when your resume feels more like a catalog of every single task you've ever done at a job rather than focusing on the stuff that matters. It's like when someone asks what you did during the weekend, and instead of saying, "I went hiking, " you give them a rundown of every stop you made along the way to buy snacks. Sure, the details are there, but no one cares about the gas station, right? Employers want to see impact, not just actions. They want to know what you accomplished, not just what was on your to-do list.

And then there's the "one-size-fits-all" resume. You know, the one you send out to every single job with no changes. I get it. Editing your resume for every job feels like a hassle. But trust me, this is where a lot of people mess up. If you're applying for a marketing role and your resume still looks like it's written for the sales job you had three years ago, you're not doing yourself any favors. It doesn't need to be a total rewrite, but small tweaks to highlight the most relevant experience can make a huge difference.

Another biggie? Buzzwords. Look, we’ve all seen those resumes loaded with words like "team player, " "goal-oriented, " and "self-starter. " And while those are fine in theory, they’re. . . kind of empty. Everyone claims to be a team player. What makes you different? Instead of piling on generic terms, show what you actually did. Did you lead a team? Did you help launch a new product? Did you solve a tricky problem? These are the things hiring managers want to see.

Okay, let’s move on to formatting. I still see people using these overly designed templates they grabbed off some website. I mean, unless you’re in a creative field like graphic design, you don’t need all the fancy colors and multiple columns. Sometimes simple really is better. A clean, straightforward design is easier to read and less likely to confuse those pesky applicant tracking systems (ATS) a lot of companies use now.

Let's not forget the length issue. This comes up constantly. The rule of thumb is generally one page if you have less than 10 years of experience. But there are exceptions. If you’re in academia or have decades of experience, two pages might make sense. Just don’t go overboard. No one wants to read a five-page resume. Keep it tight and relevant.

One final thing, and this is a big one, proofreading. I can’t tell you how many resumes I've seen with simple errors that cost people opportunities. Even if you’re convinced it’s perfect, get someone else to look it over. A fresh pair of eyes can catch things you missed.

So yeah, resumes aren’t easy. They can feel like a puzzle you’re trying to solve while blindfolded. But fixing these common mistakes can really set you apart. It’s annoying, I know, to spend extra time on something that feels so tedious. But that time pays off when you get that callback you’ve been waiting for. So take a second look at yours, what’s standing out, for better or worse?