Common Resume Mistakes

Your resume and cover letter must be clear and easy to read. Recruiters need to be able to scan it quickly to see if your qualifications match what they are seeking. Avoid:

• Spelling errors, typos and poor grammar: Demonstrate your professionalism and attention to detail by carefully proofreading your resume. It's also helpful to have a friend look it over to catch any mistakes you may have missed.
• Inaccurate dates or no dates at all: To clearly understand your employment history, recruiters need to know both when and where you've worked in the past. They might also confirm the dates on your resume with your employer.
• Inaccurate or missing contact information: Make sure that a recruiter can get in touch with you.
• Long paragraphs: Large, dense blocks of text are hard to read. Use point form or short sentences to make it easy for the recruiter to find the information they need.
• Personal information unrelated to the job: Recruiters don't need to know (and by law are not allowed to ask unless it directly relates to the job) your age, marital status, height and weight.Other personal details, such as hobbies or other interests, are not necessary.
• Fancy fonts and elaborate formatting: Remember your resume must be easy to read. Stick to standard fonts and type sizes, and simple formatting.
• No position specified: State clearly what position you are applying for. Recruiters dont have time to guess.