Don’t Sabotage Your Next Application 

Both anxiety-inducing and fairly mundane at the same, writing a resume isn’t an entertaining way to pass the time. 

Perhaps because writing it feels like such a chore, resumes often contain basic errors and sadly, even minor mistakes can sabotage good candidates before they get to the interview stage. 

A recent study from Adzuna involving nearly 93,000 resumes found misspelled words to be the most common resume mistake. Other common mistakes included the lack of a career summary, gaps in work history, and inappropriate file names. 

These simple mistakes may seem unrelated to a candidate’s ability to do a job, but companies are increasingly relying on automated software to screen applications. These automated programs are designed to flag any spelling, grammatical or other mistakes. Flagged resumes are often relegated to the bottom of the digital pile. 

To be fair to employers, simple mistakes can indicate an applicant did not take the process seriously or they would be prone to making basic errors if hired. Job openings often receive multiple applications and employers usually have the luxury of dismissing resumes with minor mistakes. 

A simple way to spot any typos or minor oversights is to have someone else proofread your resume. A fresh set of eyes is all it takes to avoid sabotaging your next application. 

How Do You Save Yourself From Sabotaging Your Next Application?

Catching Typos is Just the Beginning 

Misspelled words may be the most common type of resume mistake, but there are many other potential pitfalls that should be considered before submitting your next application. 

Another common mistake according to the Adzuna study is leaving a gap in the work history section. If there is a gap of two or more months in a candidate’s work history, it will likely raise a red flag for a potential employer. 

Between the Great Recession and COVID-19, many people have found themselves out of work in the past couple of decades, and there’s no shame in having a gap in your work history. However, it should be I dressed in some fashion. If you went to school or did volunteer work while unemployed, it should be mentioned in your work history in order to close that gap. Even if you stayed home to raise young children or look after a sick loved one, putting that in your work history shows you didn’t just spend months sitting on your couch. 

It’s also important to make sure you have an optimal filename and format for your resume. When titling your resume file, use your full name followed by the word “Resume”. This can avoid any kind of mix up on the part of the recruiter or hiring personnel. 

While some submission portals allow for PDF files, a Microsoft Word document should be your default file format. Be sure to check any submission guidelines to make sure you are submitting a file format that can be read by both a human and any resume scanning software. 

We Can Help You Optimize Your Resume 

At SMCI, we often assist job seekers with the essential task of writing a resume. Please contact us today to learn more about how we can support your job search success.