Four Common Mistakes for Boring Resumes

The stress of starting a job search makes you feel pressured to achieve fast results, but churning out boring resumes full of errors isn't going to get you that competitive position. Instead of wasting weeks wading through flawed resumes, human resources departments weed out unwanted candidates by zeroing in on careless blunders that show a lack of professionalism. Make sure common resume mistakes, such as typos, aren't landing your applications in the trash pile.

1. Your resume drags on and on.

Whether you settle on a one- or two-page resume, the layout shouldn't be crammed from margin to margin with every part-time job and lemonade stand at which you've worked. CareerBuilder surveyed hiring managers about their review process, and 45 percent admitted to spending a total of less than one minute reading each applicant's cover letter and resume. A packed resume is overwhelming to busy managers who need to scan for quick skills, education and experience matches. Cut out the fluff, and tailor your resume to your job search by focusing on past positions where you used the exact same skills highlighted in the target job postings.

2. Your job descriptions are too generic.

Bland job descriptions tell potential employers the tasks you were responsible for, but fail to explain how effectively and creatively your accomplished them. When you promote skills without providing clear, measurable examples of how you used them, your resume reads like a list of empty claims. Stand out from other candidates in a job search by briefly explaining how you improved workflow or revenue in each position. Instead of relying on generic wording, make strong statements with action verbs and data. For example, the statement "Increased customer retention by 50 percent" has more impact than "Managed customer accounts."

3. Your resume isn't readable to humans or computers.

Even highly relevant resumes become tiresome when hiring managers have to muddle through spelling and punctuation errors. Poor grammar and typos are crippling resume mistakes that make you appear lazy and inattentive, so ask a friend or career counselor to help you proofread. A modern job search also means that much of your communication with employers happens electronically. Computer programs scan for specific keywords related to the industry, and candidates are expected to match their resume lingo to the job listings and websites of potential employers.

4. Your statements are repetitive.

Showing zero enthusiasm in your application is one of the fastest ways to destroy a job search. Many boring resumes use the same verbs excessively, and these low-energy statements are often rehashed in the cover letter. Avoid drowning your resume in overused phrases, such as "responsible for," and vary the language with words that describe your specific contribution, such as "streamlined," "designed," "negotiated" or "marketed."

In any competitive hiring process, managers devote more time to candidates who demonstrate clear goals and the skills to succeed in the position. Stay on the lookout for embarrassing errors that are easy to spot and take advantage of opportunities to emphasize your distinct accomplishments. Throughout your job search, avoid vague wordiness that weakens your authority as a professional and gives the impression that you don't know what makes you valuable in the workplace.

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