Common Mistakes on a Resume or CV

Your resume or Curriculum vitae are a very important part of getting a potential employer interested in you.  However, it will only benefit you if it is well created.  Here are some common mistakes that you want to avoid.  

Not Having One

Many people fail to have a resume at all, and that is a mistake that you don’t want to make.  Even if the requirements for the job don’t call for one, you need it.  This could be what captures the attention of a particular employer and encourages them to contact you for an interview. 

No Heading

The heading of your resume should include information about you at the very top.  This includes your name, address, phone number, and email address.  Then you want to include the job title that you are applying for.  Don’t assume such information isn’t necessary because you are turning in that resume with an application. 

Spelling or Grammar Mistakes

Don’t rely on the spelling and grammar check on your computer.  Read through your resume or CV carefully line by line for any potential mistakes that slipped by.  You also want to ask someone else to read through it for you; someone that has good spelling and grammar skills.  Mistakes like this can stick out like a sore thumb to an employer and prevent you from being considered any further for the job (especially if you are a teacher).

Difficult to Read

A resume should be easy on the eyes, so pay attention to details such as font style and size.  Use black or blue ink and make sure you have good stock paper to print it on.  You don’t want to use a font that is very small just to include more information.  You also want to have sections, with spaces between them so that it is very attractive overall. 

Too Long

A resume shouldn’t be longer than one page.  If yours is beyond that, you need to narrow it down.  Go through it and remove any information that isn’t absolutely necessary or that you already covered on the actual job application. 

Not Specific to the Job Description

You want your resume to be specific to the particular job that you are applying for when you can.  It is easy to change just a few things for each job you apply for due to the resume being saved on your computer.  You don’t want to offer just a generic resume as that isn’t going to be very appealing to the person reading it. 

Fuss over the Cover Letter

Yes.  You need one.  Yes you do.

Not everyone who submits a resume will get an interview.  The interview is, after all, your objective.  Is it not?

Educate yourself on how to write a stunning cover letter to give yourself the best chance to obtain an interview.  Skip this step at your own peril.  The people who get the interview will have written and submitted a cover letter.  It is your first chance to interact personally with the hiring office.  You get one shot only.

For some detailed instruction on cover letter etiquette, see this resource right here: http://coverletterinterv.hubpages.com/hub/Cover-Letter-Etiquette