5 Common Resume Mistakes

A resume highlights skills, experience, and objectives, and it is a must have in today's cutthroat job market. It is the first step towards a new career, and if well written it can even give insight into your persona, but don't overdo it. There's no need for transcripts, reference letters, or award lists unless requested. Just stick to the basics of objectives and work experience and target your strengths, because if sloppy, ill worded, and unorganized, your resume will immediately be tossed aside in an employer's twenty-second scan.

Here are five tips on how to make your resume stand out.

1. Late. The easiest way to get your resume added to the junk pile is by sending it in late. That's an unflattering look at your time management skills, and you haven't even been hired. The same goes for interviewing. Show up early. Whether 5 or15 minutes, it doesn't matter, employers would rather see a prospective employee waiting in the lobby than the clock ticking as their scheduled times slips by.

2. Gaudy. Ladies are known to get a bit "creative" with their resumes, going from decorative backgrounds to flowery subheadings and scrolling fonts in an effort to make their resumes stand out. Unfortunately, these fonts and graphics are often an eyesore, taking away from the importance of your resume. If you want to spice things up a bit, print it on heavier stock. You will still need to stick to the basic colors of cream, tan, or white though. That way, your employer will read about your qualifications instead of catching himself staring at the unicorn in the corner of your chosen stationary.

3. It smells. True, resumes are meant to reflect work history and, if manageable, personal interests, but it does not need to smell like Jennifer Lopez's latest perfume. Many employers nowadays are hypoallergenic germaphobes who can't stand the smell of just about anything. Leave them be. If you make it to the interview, then you'll discover whether perfume is a yes or no.

4. Short and Sweet. You will quickly learn that a resume is another source of marketing. Basically, you are highlighting your best skills toward the profession that you are applying for and hoping for the best. So, don't overload it with fluff and watch for repetition. Keep your statements tight and concise and take out the first pronoun (I, me, my).

Also, keep information recent and relevant. A three-page resume will be added to the trash pile simply because of an employer's time constraints and the amount of pointless information given. They don't need to know you have worked at the deli, Star of Hope, and washed cars at varying points in your life. These jobs could provide great references, but if you are applying for a position in bioengineering, details of your recent internship with NASA and references (if available) could be extraordinary assets.

5. Fonts. Fonts can get your resume tossed out quicker than you would ever believe. This isn't the time to "express yourself" with scrolling letters, Castellar fonts, or other symbols. Relax, and stick with Times New Roman or Arial, and keep your resume left justified. That way, an employer's eyes won't have the urge to wander and they will actually focus on your past actions and future goals.

Good Luck!