The Biggest Mistakes on a Resume

Human resource professionals can have dozens of resumes pass through their hands when looking for the ideal candidate. First impressions are extremely important, and a resume gives employers a brief glance at what you bring to the table. Resume mistakes, whether big or small, can impact this initial impression. So, what can you do to stay ahead of the pack? Start by avoiding the following missteps to ensure that your resume doesn't get tossed aside.

Employers are looking for employees that are intelligent, reliable and have an eye for detail. Quality candidates that would shine at a particular job are oftentimes overlooked because of simple resume mistakes. In a highly competitive job market, job seekers need to be diligent about representing themselves with an error-free resume that is truthful and compact.

Typos are the biggest resume mistake that most human resources professionals see, and they are also the easiest to correct. According to a 2013 CareerBuilder survey, over 58 percent of resumes included at least one typo. Typos reflect poorly on candidates because they show a lack of detail orientation. Aside from general spell-check functions on a computer, it is imperative that the candidate has a third party look over the entire resume in order to point out any apparent grammatical problems.

Lying on a resume may seem extreme, but this resume mistake happens all too often. Candidates wanting to set themselves apart go to extremes. Small lies regarding degrees, grade point averages and job longevity will quickly get a candidate dismissed. Those that make it through the interview process and are offered a job may experience immediate termination if any lies are discovered. Honesty is the best policy when constructing a resume. Highlight the qualities that make you unique and skip over any untrue claims, no matter how slight.

Resumes should give a short but effective representation of a candidate's professional background and notable merits. Resumes that are too long are often overlooked because there simply isn't enough time for many hiring managers to thoroughly read hundreds of four to five page resumes. Employers find that candidates able to construct a concise and focused resume are more capable of prioritizing on the job. As a rule of thumb, every 10 years of employment should cover one resume page. Also, it is not necessary to include employment experience more than 20 years old.

There are many other resume mistakes that can impact that essential first impression, including improper formatting and disclosing confidential information to the potential employer. It is important to note, however, that resumes are only one piece of the puzzle. According to Laszlo Bock, vice president of operations at Google, resumes should be looked at as the first step to get an interview and not the final product.

Mistakes aside, how does a potential employee make a resume shine? The key is to engage the hiring manager with simple, straightforward facts about your background. Include a section that describes particular merits within the job field. Explain any major lapses in employment, be truthful and have someone look it over for any obvious resume mistakes. When all is said and done, the resume just scratches the surface of who you are as a professional.

Photo courtesy of phasinphoto at FreeDigitalPhotos.net