If these five resume errors were rare, there'd be no need to discuss them. Unfortunately, they're not only common, they're also forehead-slappingly obvious, once you think about it. So, in the sarcastic spirit of SNL's Weekend Update "Really!?!" segment, I give you five really commonresume mistakes that you really don't want to make.
- You listed your email address as badboybob @ bobsbadboys.com. Really!?!
Great job, Bob! Personal branding is important, and every company needs a Bad Boy on staff!
- YOU WROTE YOUR RESUME IN ALL CAPS. REALLY!?!
NICE MULTITASKING! YOU ASSERTED YOUR AUTHORITY BY SHOUTING AT THE HIRING MANAGER WHILE DEMONSTRATING YOUR POOR TYPING SKILLS AT THE SAME TIME.
- You skipped the Professional Summary. Really!?!
Smart move! Make the hiring manager search for the stuff that's relevant. Your time is too important to spend it highlighting your unique value at the top of your resume.
- You crammed a 15-year career onto one page. Really!?!
Brilliant!WhatEmployerWouldn'tWantToReadASolidBlockOfTextIn8-PointTypeWithQuarter-InchMarginsAndNoSpaceBetweenParagraphs?WhiteSpaceIsSoOverrated.
- You copied your old job descriptions verbatim. Really!?!
Good idea! A detailed list of past job duties starting in the '80s or '90s will surely help the hiring manager assess the value you can bring to their company in 2010!
OK, just to be clear, those are all mistakes, and the congratulatory comments are jokes. Really.
RELATED LINKS
5 Rules for Building a Great Resume
Good and Bad Resumes: Want to See the Difference?
Critique Your Resume Like a Hiring Manager
Resume Writing for the Clueless II: Your Summary
Ready To Jump Start Your Job Search?
