It is very good to know the essential don’ts in resume writing to craft a good one. The resume is a very important document used during job application. In my previous article, crafting the perfect resume, I discussed what to include in your resume. Therefore, this article will discuss what to avoid when writing a good resume.
Essential don’ts in resume writing
To make your resume stand out and easily noticeably by employers, always avoid what will discussed below.
-
Generic resume templates
Avoid generic templates since they make your resume look similar to others. Use a professionally well-customized template, well formatted and organized to reflect your unique skills and capabilities. This will make your resume stand out.
-
Irrelevant information
In addition to using generic templates, the second most common mistake a lot of job seekers make when writing their resume is adding irrelevant information. This makes your resume long, and boring to read and also makes you forget to add important information. Only write important accomplishments, skills, and work experiences that showcase your ability to do the job you are applying for.
-
Errors
Avoid errors at all costs when writing your resume. Errors can be in many forms, grammatical errors, formatting inconsistencies, spelling mistakes, etc. Errors reveal how careless you are and how you don’t pay attention to details. Making avoidable errors in your resume also shows how lazy you are and doesn’t send a good impression to employers. Due to this, always proofread your resume to make sure there are no errors before submitting.
-
Personal details
The resume is a professional document and must be treated as such. Details such as your age, marital status, religion, etc. must not be included in your resume. Including such details may introduce room for bias or discrimination.
-
Excessive Jargons and acronyms
While it is acceptable to use industry-specific terms and acronyms, it is advisable to use clear and concise language. This will make your resume readable and understandable to a wider audience from various fields. If you must use jargon and acronyms, explain them also in simple layman’s terms.
-
Falsifying information
Many job seekers include false information to make them appear as strong candidates when writing their resumes. In certain cases, your employer can notice and disqualify you. Whereas in some cases, the false information may be noticed after you are employed. Whichever way. including false information, will damage your reputation and credibility which can affect your future job applications and employment.
Conclusion
This article has discussed relevant things that must be avoided in writing a good resume. These include errors, falsifying information, using excessive jargon and acronyms, etc.. Apply them in your resume writing to make you stand out during your job application.
