1. Attempting the One Size Fit All Approach
Not all jobs are created equal. Each job you apply to will require different responsibilities or knowledge to succeed in the role. In addition to this, each employer will have different key terms they are looking for in a candidate. When using the keywords, it filters through the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) smoothly, giving you a higher chance of having your resume looked at.
Use keywords you find in the job post and apply them to your resume. This way, your resume will have a higher chance of surpassing ATS systems.
2. Highlighting Duties Instead of Accomplishments
Typically you have 7-10 seconds to impress the hiring manager. Avoid talking about your day to day duties and use the space to speak on measurable objectives or accomplishments. Don’t cram all of your accomplishment into one long paragraph. Split up your accomplishments by using bullet points for easier reading.
Try to keep each bullet point between 1-3 lines, if you are noticing that it is exceeding the limit, utilize sub-bullets to work in the rest of the information.
3. Having Too Many Typos and Grammar Mistakes
Make sure you are using the correct homonyms, punctuation, and spelling on your resume. You never want to allow a small spelling mistake put you at a disadvantage against other candidates.
Look over your resume a few times and pass it on to a trusted source to look over your resume. Sometimes a second set of eyes will find mistakes that you didn’t notice when editing.
4. Adding Incorrect Contact Information
Small mistakes such as forgetting a letter in your email or submitting the wrong phone number can greatly diminish your chances of landing an interview. The hiring manager will not go out of their way to find the correct contact information to call you.
Double or triple check your contact information before submitting your resume.
5. Submitting An “Artistic” Resume Through ATS
Remove all fonts or stylish layouts on your resume. Due to the heavy emphasis on Search Optimization Engine (SEO) Keywords and adaptation of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), the chances of your resume being “eye-catching” hurts your chances instead of helping.
Keep it simple. Avoid placing icons, tables, or other forms of formatting on your resume that ATS would reject.