Ask anyone who’s looking for a job these days and they will tell you that these are difficult times. With more and more people in the job market, you need to make sure your résumé stands out from the millions of others. Luckily, we’re here to help. Here are eight common mistakes applicants make on their résumés. Avoid these and you will greatly increase your chances of getting a job.
8. Don’t Focus on the Negatives
Far too many job applicants spend too much time including information that actually turns employers off. Put yourself in the shoes of your potential boss. Does he need to know that you accidentally invented AIDS when he’s considering you for a position? Probably not.
7. The Use of Threats
While you may be desperate for a job, threatening your potential employer will actually make him or her less likely to hire you. Always maintain a professional tone, no matter what your financial situation may be.
6. Choice of Font
When choosing a font for your résumé, make sure you use a professionally accepted typeface. Fonts such as “wingdings” (shown above) are difficult to read because they do not use letters in the English alphabet, which most, if not all, of your potential employers use to communicate.
5. Including Irrelevant Information
Most employers glance at a resume for 10 seconds. Don’t waste any valuable space by providing information that an employer doesn’t need to know. Keep your résumé focused on what you do well in your field of expertise.
4. Poor Choice of Design
The design and layout of a résumé is the first thing an employer notices. It needs to be easy on the eye and promote words on the page in a friendly and inviting manner. If possible, try to leave off symbols of hate when designing your résumé.
3. Poor Choice of References
Make sure you only include references that highlight your professional history. Persons with which you have a volatile relationship, personal friends or family members should not be included.
2. Listing Your Religious Affiliation
Most employers do not need to know your religious affiliation, and in some cases, this information could cause an employer to not consider you for a position.
1. The Inclusion of Homosexual “Bears”
While most people do enjoy the sight of a large, hairy homosexual man in various poses, there’s no guarantee that your potential employer is “into bears.” Just to be safe, you should probably go ahead and take off all photos of “bears” off your résumé. Good luck job hunting!
