In this challenging job market, looking for ways to set your resume apart is vital, but there are still people that are guilty of making some terrible resume mistakes. Many resume rules would seem to go without saying to anyone with common sense, but they still get broken on a daily basis. So here are a list of 5 resume tips that should be obvious, but apparently aren't.
Proofread Your Resume- This one is the most important. Run your work through a spell check program, but don't rely only on that. Go back through to make sure that you haven't misused a word, or made a typo that created a word that your spell check won't pick up. It is a good idea to type it all out, proofread it, wait a day then go back and proofread again. Waiting until it isn't so fresh in your mind helps tremendously because by then you don't already know what you are trying to say. Often, in the proofreading process, you know what the sentence is supposed to say so slight errors are as easily spotted.
Remember to Attach Your Resume- I will admit that I have been guilty of this. If you don't attach your resume, the hiring manager can't read it and consider you for the job. The email application is your first shot at impressing a company, and if you make this mistake, you may as well have not even applied. Take a few moments after composing your email to make sure that you have the address correct, that you have typed in a subject, that your email is free of errors and that you have attached your resume before you press send. Taking the extra few moments to take a deep breath and be sure that you have everything right can make a huge difference.
Consider Your File Format- Different offices use different file formats. If you save a file in Microsoft Works format, most people won't be able to open it. Even if someone is able to open a file in a format their system doesn't use, often the formatting will not look they way you initially created it. This can make your resume look awful to a hiring manager. I prefer to use Open Office, which is a free word processing suite from Sun Microsystems, and it allows you to choose from many different file types when you save your work. A good rule is that almost anyone can open a PDF, and you can be sure that no matter what system they are using, your PDF will keep the original formatting.
Chose Your Email Provider Carefully- It isn't wrong to use a free email provider, like hotmail or yahoo, but be careful about your user name. Nothing looks worse than sending a resume from HotDude4U. Make a new email account just for your job search and make it professional. Even an email address that relates to your favorite hobby or sports team can reflect badly on you. The best bet is to use a combination of your first and last name and leave it at that. Keeping it simple is the best way to go.
Include a Cover Letter- There is some debate about whether a cover letter is always necessary, but it is a good idea to always include one. Don't make the mistake of writing one form cover letter and using it for every job you apply for. Take the time to write a letter to the hiring manager of the job you want to let them know, briefly, why you are applying and why you think that your resume deserve a look. Try your best to make the cover letter personal so that they know that you are sending this letter just to them. Even in situations where the cover letter may not be necessary, it always helps and always makes you look professional.
So, there you have it, the rules that should be obvious, but aren't. I am sure that most of you will recognize some of these as mistakes that you have made in the past. I am embarrassed to admit that I have been guilty of most of these myself, at different points in my life. The biggest thing to keep in mind is, take your time, think about what you are doing and try your best to pay attention to the details. Hopefully, keeping these in mind, your resume will stand out from the other 80% that make these mistakes.
By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a freelance writer and regular contributor to several websites and other publications, a volunteer, a full time mom and an active job seeker.
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