What to Avoid when Writing a Resume?

Answer 1

A resume is often the first thing potential employers see from an applicant. It shows them not only what skills and experience a person has, but also if the applicant is organized and professional. While there are many aspects of a resume that make one great, there are also certain mistakes that should always be avoided.

Proofreading one’s resume for grammatical mistakes is a must. Nothing shows incompetence more than having a resume filled with spelling and punctuation errors. Make sure the rules of mechanics have been followed, such as placing periods at the end of sentences and capitalizing proper nouns. Look carefully to see if any sentences are incomplete and fix accordingly. If a person cares enough to present a resume that is free of grammatical errors, it shows the future employee that he or she is an astute person that will catch potential mistakes on the job, too.

Avoid using fonts that are too large or small. When people read tiny print, they might toss the resume to the side because it hurts their eyes. Also, when they read type that’s too big, it makes the applicant come off as arrogant or childish. Artistic fonts need not be used either to avoid the risk that they are unreadable. Many word document programs do not share the same fonts, so by using a strange font, an applicant risks the text being converted into unintelligible symbols. By using size 12, Times New Roman font, an applicant is playing it safe.

Making sure there are not too many large blocks of text is important in creating a readable resume. Future employers often get many applicants, and if they come across a resume flooded with words, they may toss it in the trashcan because of the time and effort it takes to read it. By spacing out text, as well as using charts and bulleted lists, an applicant can avoid making his or her resume too muddied with words.

Resumes are what spark future employers’ initial interest. By creating a resume that is easy to read with good grammar and organizational structure, applicants increase their chances for an interview.