Top 10 Resume Bloopers of All Time

1. Creating a resume using MS Word "Resume Templates":

For many job seekers, in the age of Personal Computers complete with Microsoft Office Suite, the "Resume Templates" found within the MS Word become the first source of assistance. However, these give the worst possible resumes specifically for electronic resumes. Even though the printed resumes look fine, it is best to create the resume from the scratch taking the templates only as a guide.

If you are sending your resume as a MS Word attachment, there is an increase chance of it getting scanned first by some software, referred to as Applicant Tracking Software or ATS. This software removes resumes from the company's tracking system due to excessive usage of style sheets, formatting, tables, and cells that are part of these prefabricated templates.

2. Not following the traditional reverse chronological format:

Hiring managers are most interested in your current or your most recent one or two job positions. As they read more in your past, they become uninterested in jobs that you have done ten years ago. On the other hand, they are more interested in jobs that you have done during the past five years or so. For this reason, it is ideal list the most recent job first while stating your very first job position towards the end of the resume. Functional resumes are referred to as cover-up for gaps that do not fool anyone else except the candidate looking for job and insisting on using them.

The two main types of resume formats are:

Chronological
Functional

3. Using cute or overly fancy fonts:

In most cases, using too tiny or to fancy script-like fonts, makes it nearly impossible to read your resume unless they reformatted to a different font style or exploded to 200%. Hiring managers generally discard these types of resumes rather than going through the inconvenience of decoding them first.

4. Electronically Unfriendly resume:

Avoid being an "electronic savvy" in formatting the resume leading to an electronically UNFRIENDLY resume format. Avoid using excessive graphics, clip art, cells, or tables. Even if you are a graphic artist or other fine artist, send a fancy PDF formatted resume as well as the plain MS Word formatted resume so someone has both versions.

5. Stating duplicate, conflicting, or overlapping jobs:

Do not list overlapping job positions in order to attempt to make up for what you feel might be shortcomings in your "daytime" position. This will only confuse things are conflict with the ultimate goal of the career you are pursuing.

6. Avoid splitting your "contact information":

Do not put your contact information in a way where part of it remains at the top of the resume while the rest is forced down at the bottom. Most hiring managers spent only three seconds looking at a resume and then they move on to the next; hence, make sure you complete contact information which includes cell phone and email is all in one location at the top of the page.

7. Do not include too-personal information:

Remember never to include marital status, size of family, political organizations or any other group unless it is related to the job you are applying for. None of these adds any benefit to the resume. On the other hand, it almost always backfires against you.

8. Sending too long resumes:

For most job position, a two-page resume is sufficient. In fact, for individuals having less than 8 years of experience, a one-page resume is also enough. Seldom anybody looks at the second page. The most important are your current experiences which should be listed prominently, in a chronological format.

9. Resume that appears cluttered:

Avoid writing resume put in blocks of ongoing paragraphs packed into small, narrow page margins. These make the resume unattractive. Instead use a bulleted format which breaks up as well as allows highlights strengthens and features on your skills.

10. Omitting Objective (in trying to make a career change):

In case you are attempting a career change, the "Objective Statement" of your resume is critical. Frequently, your skills will not fit the job opening perfectly while making a career change and the objective statement will help you explain why you are submitting a resume for a job opening that is not necessarily the perfect fit