A
career change article:
Five Biggest Resume
Mistakes You Can Fix Yourself
by Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D.
A career consultant can
diagnose and overhaul a troubled
resume. But you can check off the basics yourself.
Mistake #1. "The
mystery applicant." No contact
information.
Fix: List a daytime phone
number and email address, right at
the top of the page. Create a professional-sounding message
for your answering device.
Mistake #2. "The
scrunchie." Loads of detail crammed
together in eight-point type.
Fix: Add lots of white
space, avoid tiny type and use bullet
points instead of long paragraphs. If you've got a story to
tell, most reviewers will happily turn to a second page.
Mistake #3: "List
of tasks and duties." Obituary of a boring
employee.
Fix: Sell yourself by
focusing on accomplishments.
Demonstrate the impact of your achievements. Describe
actions, not obligations.
Mistake #4: "The
expressionist." Sets off alarm bells.
Fix: Choose chronological
rather than functional form,
especially if you use traditional job-hunting sources: HR
departments, recruiters, and advertisements. Off the beaten
path, use a sales letter or network your way to in-person
presentations.
Mistake #5: "Creative
language." Spelling, grammar and
punctuation errors.
Proof-read and ask a
friend to help. Computerized spelling
and grammar checks won't catch everything. A
carefully-prepared resume will stand out more than you can
imagine.