Summary

The article outlines seven common mistakes to avoid on a resume to make a strong first impression during the job application process.

Abstract

Vishal Mehta's article "7 Things I Don’t Want to See in Your Resume" provides job seekers with crucial advice on crafting an effective resume. The piece emphasizes the importance of relevance, conciseness, and clarity in resume writing. It advises against including irrelevant information, over-formatting or under-formatting, typos, clichés, hidden contact details, excessive length, and over-personalization. Mehta suggests tailoring the resume to the job, using professional templates, proofreading, being specific with skills, and ensuring contact information is easily accessible. The article also encourages the use of creative elements judiciously, mainly when they enhance the candidate's story.

Opinions

The author believes that a resume should be a curated narrative of one's professional journey, not an exhaustive list of all past tasks.
Mehta indicates that using clichéd terms like "passionate" or "team player" is ineffective and advises job seekers to demonstrate these qualities with specific examples instead.
The article suggests that while personalization is important, too much can be distracting and may not be suitable for all job applications.
The author emphasizes the necessity of making a good first impression through a well-crafted resume, as it is the first point of contact with potential employers.
Mehta points out that with the availability of free tools, there is no excuse for typos or grammatical errors in a resume.
The piece acknowledges that resume length should be appropriate to one's experience level, typically one to two pages for both fresh graduates and experienced professionals.
The author notes that while creative elements can be beneficial for certain professions like graphic design, they should not overshadow the core message of the resume.

SELF IMPROVEMENT

7 Things I Don’t Want to See in Your Resume

Please stop making these mistakes

When you’re applying for a job, your resume is the first thing the hiring manager will see. This means that it’s important to make sure your resume does the job of creating a good first impression!

There are many things you can do to make your resume stand out, but there are also some things you should avoid.

These are the seven common mistakes candidates make on their resumes:

1. Irrelevant Information

Your resume should be tailored to the job you’re applying for, so make sure to only include relevant information.

For instance, if you’re applying for a job in marketing, don’t list your experience as a cashier at the local grocery store.

This means removing any information that is no longer valid, such as outdated job titles or skills.

It is very tempting to fill it up with everything you’ve done in the past. But it is simply noise.

For experienced candidates, you can even remove or summarize any experience you’ve had that’s south of 7 years.

2. Too Much or Too Little Formatting

Too much formatting can be distracting and make your resume difficult to read. However, if you don’t use any formatting at all, your resume will appear boring and unprofessional.

Find a happy medium that will make your resume easy to read while still standing out.

There’s no need to do it your own way — it’s perfectly fine to opt for a professional template that is simple to use and read.

3. Typos and Grammatical Errors

Typos and grammatical errors are a big red flag for hiring managers. They indicate that you didn’t take the time to proofread your resume.

They will wonder and assume if you’re careless enough to make mistakes on important documents like emails or reports.

With today’s free toolsets, there’s no excuse for this one really!

4. Clichés

Avoid overused words and phrases.

Hint: passionate, hard worker, team player, self-motivated, attention to detail

(I was guilty of this not so long ago :))

Using these words and phrases won’t make you stand out. Be creative and find a unique way to showcase your skills and qualifications.

Be specific and mention specific examples of times when you have demonstrated these qualities.

5. Hidden Contact Information

If your contact info is buried in the footer and not readable, that’s a complete negative. Make sure to have your contact up and clear.

Also, make sure you have the expected mode of contact for the job you’re after— Email address, phone number, LinkedIn, design portfolio, blog — everything that gives the hiring manager to see more of your experience, and get in touch.

One note on email address — make sure you use a professional email address, not the one from high school or something that sounds unprofessional.

6. Too Long

What is a good length for a fresh graduate? For experienced professionals? Regardless of your experience, the best length is 1–2 pages.

The relevant skills and experience need at most 2 pages to cover it all.

The resume is a narrative on what you have accomplished in the past and the skills you’ve gained and utilized in the journey — that makes you a suitable candidate for the job.

It is not a laundry list of every task you have done in your previous jobs. Keeping a resume short is a challenge, but easier than you think.

7. Too Much Personalization

Colors, shapes, graphs, photos, hobbies, marital status, QR codes — some resumes have it all!

Having too much personalization can make you stand out, but it will definitely distract the hiring manager. Also it may not be print-friendly.

Your resume should deliver the core message of you as a candidate without any props or ornaments that don’t help enhance your story.

It is fine in some cases.. for instance, if you are a graphic designer, even the resume becomes an opportunity to showcase your creative skills. But there has to be a balance.

Keep these things in mind when creating your resume, and you’ll be sure to make a strong first impression! Thanks for reading.

Check out these insightful resources:

8 Tips for Writing a Winning Resume — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u75hUSShvnc
63 Killing Resume Buzzwords to Avoid & Include in 2022 — https://cresuma.com/career-guides/resume-buzzwords-cliches/
43 Resume Tips That Will Help You Get Hired — https://www.themuse.com/advice/43-resume-tips-that-will-help-you-get-hired
The Top Resume Formats for 2022: Templates & Examples — https://www.myperfectresume.com/resume/formats

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