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When many companies have different expectations for your resume, it can take time to pinpoint the correct way to see what yours should look like. In a job market where the use of AI recruiters and limited jobs is increasingly becoming a trend, you can spend hours upon hours on your resume only for it to never reach a person and not get you the job. So, here are some common, universal mistakes you could be making when it comes to your resume:
File Name
Yes, believe it or not, something as seemingly minor as your document’s file name can make or break your resume. Your name and the word ‘Resume’ on your file work best. While there is technically no incorrect way to format these, ‘LastName-FirstName-Resume’ is the recommended version. It’s a minimal change, but it’s bound to take you far.
Formatting
Formatting is also a big deal when it comes to resumes. When you’re making your resume, ensure that your information fits on one page, the formatting is simplified and not too visually distracting, and there are no spelling or grammar mistakes. Also, if you need help with the formatting, VMock is available to all Bentley students!
Only Having One Resume
People make This common mistake with cover letters, but tailoring different resumes for different industries and companies can make a big difference in the job search. Since everyone has so much to offer, it is imperative to highlight what your specific company or employer wants in a candidate. And because there is only so much that can fit on one page, not to mention the amount of time a recruiter takes reading your resume is minimal, it makes a huge change when you switch things up and assign different resumes to different companies.
Treating Your Tasks Like Tasks
This might be a confusing headline, but when describing your work experience, make sure your work experience doesn’t sound like you were forced into doing your responsibility – treat your tasks like achievements! Instead of using words like “helped” or “worked on,” use active verbs like “collaborated,” “composed,” or “developed.” You can refer to Harvard Business School’s Action Verb MasterList for more examples.
Overall, resume-building is time-consuming. But if you take the right steps, you can get one that catches recruiters’ eyes and gets you tons of interviews. Good Luck!
