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Resume Mistakes to Avoid When Seeking a Corporate Job

December 27, 2017

Whether you are looking to begin your first corporate job or you are unhappy with your current job and want to make a career change, you likely know that landing a good corporate job requires a good resume.

In fact, every corporate job opening today attracts an average of 250 resumes from job seekers and, typically, only about four to six people out of the 250 who apply are even called in to interview with the company. Typically, job recruiters decide whether they would like to interview a potential job applicant within one minute of beginning to read their resume, so avoid these common resume mistakes that can lead to a recruiter tossing your resume aside before they even finish reading it.

Typos and Grammar Mistakes

While employers may not expect every applicant to be a perfect typist and have perfect written English skills, especially if the job they are applying for does not require these skills, they do expect applicants to pay great attention to detail.

When an employer or recruiter notices spelling mistakes, typos, and obvious grammar mistakes on a resume at first glance, they often dismiss the resume immediately. These mistakes give the impression that the applicant just didn't care enough to proofread their resume or request that someone with better grammar skills proofread it for them.

Wrong Choice of Font Sizes

When an employer is reviewing an average of 250 resumes per job opening, the last thing they want to have to do is squint to read a resume that is typed in a small font. The classic font sizes for a resume are 10 to 12 points, and you should stick with these sizes when writing your resume. However, headings can be as large as 14 to 16 points, and you should underline them or make them bold to help the recruiter scan your resume with ease.

If you find that you have to make the font smaller to fit your entire resume onto the maximum recommended two pages, then that is a sign you should remove some nonvital information from your resume instead of shrinking the font.

The wrong font style can also make it more difficult for your potential employer to read your resume, so stick to one that is easy on the eyes, such as classic Times New Roman, Arial or Calibri. Also avoid using a wacky font, such as Comic Sans, because while you may think it shows off your quirkiness, your recruiter may simply find it unprofessional.

Objective Statement

While resume professionals used to advise that job seekers include objective statements on resumes, this practice is now considered outdated for multiple reasons. First, this statement wastes premium resume space at the top of your resume that can be used for much more impressive information.

In addition, if you state that your objective is to obtain a very specific job within the company, you may be overlooked for another job opening that the company would otherwise consider you a great fit for.

Instead, include a personal branding statement that really sells you as an employee and showcases a few of your best qualities as a worker.

Contact AAA McKinstry if you would like a personalized resume written for you that you will feel proud to show to prospective employers in the corporate world.