3 Common Resume Problems – Does Your Resume Fall Prey to One of These?

By Jessica Holbrook Hernandez, Expert Resume Writer

Are you overlooking common resume blunders on your resume? I review job seeker resumes on a daily basis and I find the same three mistakes being repeated by countless job seekers. Below I’ve listed them so you can take a good look at your own resume and make some adjustments.

1. Using an Objective Statement

The problem with an objective statement is twofold. First, the employer already knows your objective is to get the job—and second, these statements are typically written in such a broad-based, generic, and vague manner that they don’t tell the employer anything about you as a candidate—and they fail to set you apart in a sea of other candidates.

2. Long List of Bullets

If your resume is one long list of bullet points, you’ve already lost your reader and ensured that anything past about the third bullet point won’t be read. As the human eye scans the resume it looks for content that stands out. Information needs to jump out at the employer, be easy-to-read, and keep his or her attention. Creating one long list of bullet points makes it hard to keep the reader’s attention. Especially if your resume is very text dense.

3. Duties Without Accomplishments

If your resume contains the phrases duties included or responsible for or if your resume only contains a listing of your job duties … I’m talking to YOU. These phrases are passive, boring, and only tell the manager what your job description says—not what you actually did. And what you did is more important, and it’s what the employer will actually want to know. While it’s always good to provide a concise description of what your position entailed, it’s more important to share the successes and accomplishments you achieved within each role. These are unique to you and will help you stand out when compared to other candidates vying for the same position. Additionally, even duties and responsibilities can be written in a way that conveys challenge, action, and result.

Take a good long look at your resume to make sure it doesn’t contain one of the above stated issues. If it does, then consider revamping your resume to help set yourself apart from other viable candidates.

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About the Author

Jessica Hernandez, is a resume authority for the Job Talk America radio program and multi-published expert author for resume, career, and job search publications. She boasts more than ten years in human resources management and hiring for Fortune 500 companies and utilizes her extensive experience to support job seekers in their quest to move onward and upward in their careers. Find out more at Great Resumes Fast.

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