5 Resume Mistakes You MUST Avoid (with real examples)!

Summary

In this video, Jeff shares key lessons from his job search, highlighting the five biggest resume mistakes he made when applying for his first full-time job. He emphasizes the importance of networking, tailoring your resume, showing impact, using meaningful metrics, and paying attention to small formatting details. Through his personal experiences and feedback from career experts, Jeff offers actionable tips on how to create a compelling resume that stands out to recruiters and hiring managers. His insights help job seekers refine their resumes for maximum impact and increase their chances of landing interviews.

Takeaways

• 😀 Tailor your resume to the job description, don’t use the same one for all applications.
• 😀 Your work experience should be listed above your education if you have relevant experience.
• 😀 Focus on showing impact rather than just listing job duties or buzzwords.
• 😀 Use meaningful metrics to quantify your achievements, even if they seem small.
• 😀 Small formatting details matter—check your resume for consistency and avoid minor mistakes.
• 😀 Networking is key: connect with alumni, recruiters, and hiring managers for valuable feedback.
• 😀 Prioritize the quality of applications over quantity—focus on a few roles at a time.
• 😀 The ‘so what?’ question helps you highlight the real value of your work and achievements.
• 😀 A resume should focus on what you’ve accomplished, not just what you’ve done.
• 😀 Proofread your resume or get feedback from others to catch errors you might miss.
• 😀 Use tools like word cloud generators to identify key terms from job descriptions for easier tailoring.

Q & A

What are the two main things that helped the speaker land multiple job offers?

The speaker attributes their success to two key actions: networking extensively with alumni, recruiters, and hiring managers, and editing their resume based on the feedback they received from these professionals.

Why does the speaker recommend moving the education section below work experience on a resume?

The speaker suggests this change because recruiters and hiring managers prioritize work experience, internships, and extracurriculars over academic achievements when assessing a candidate’s ability to perform on the job. Work experience provides concrete examples of skills and capabilities that are directly relevant to the role.

What is the problem with the original resume example of 'assisted with project governance'?

The issue is that the bullet points use vague, overcomplicated terms without clearly explaining the impact of the actions. The revised version adds a concrete result, such as the successful opening of a banking branch, which better demonstrates the candidate's contribution and impact.

How can someone who is new to the job market quantify their impact when they lack metrics?

The speaker advises that the effort to quantify your impact matters more than having impressive metrics. For example, even small benchmarks, like comparing a presentation score to the class average, can show that you are aware of success metrics and are proactive in measuring your own performance.

What is a simple method for tailoring a resume for different job applications?

The speaker recommends using a word cloud generator to analyze job descriptions and identify relevant keywords. These keywords can then be incorporated into your resume to better align with the skills the recruiter is looking for.

How should a LinkedIn profile differ from a resume?

A LinkedIn profile should provide a broad, general overview of your professional background, whereas a resume should be highly tailored to each specific job application, showcasing the most relevant experience and skills for the role.

What is the significance of small formatting errors on a resume?

Small formatting errors, such as inconsistent hyphen usage, may seem minor but can create a negative impression. Attention to detail is important because it reflects on the applicant's professionalism and thoroughness.

What tools can help catch mistakes in resume formatting or grammar?

The speaker recommends using tools like Grammarly or the autocorrect feature in Google Docs to catch spelling and grammar errors. Additionally, asking multiple people to review your resume can help spot overlooked mistakes.

How can someone show the impact of their contributions when working at a startup with no established data?

Even without established data, the speaker suggests focusing on the effort to quantify your work. For example, specifying how your actions contributed to a project or resulted in positive outcomes—like improving a process or customer satisfaction—can demonstrate impact.

What is the biggest mistake the speaker made when applying to jobs initially?

The speaker admits to the mistake of not tailoring their resume for each specific job application. They explain that applying to many jobs with the same resume without customizing it for each role was ineffective. Tailoring resumes for each position, even with slight adjustments, significantly improves chances.