There is no such thing as a perfect resume because everyone’s experience, career path, and goals are different. But there are some general best practices and standards that are considered widely acceptable. There are also some red flags that can raise questions from employers across the board. However, how you frame your experience can help minimize concerns and show employers why you should still be considered for the role. We’re taking a closer look at five resume red flags and ways to overcome them.
- Employment Gaps
Small gaps between jobs are generally not something that employers worry about too much, but if you have several months or years between roles, or there are multiple gaps, this can be concerning. Employers may wonder about your motivation and reliability.
Show that you used this time effectively, whether you took a professional development course, did some consulting or freelance work, or volunteered. You want to demonstrate that you were being productive, gaining new skills, and staying relevant in your industry.
- Job Hopping
If you have held multiple jobs in a short period of time or not stayed with one company more than a year, this can also raise a red flag. Employers may question why you have not stayed long-term and whether you would be committed to their company.
Emphasize the positive impact you had in each role and how you contributed to the organization. You may have been there a short time, but what did you achieve? This can show your ability to quickly adjust and drive results. You can also highlight the experience you have gained working across different areas of a business or different industries, making you a more well-rounded candidate.
- Lack of Achievements
Your resume should not be a laundry list of responsibilities and vague tasks. Employers want to see how you made a difference and what you accomplished. Not every job lends itself very well to measurable results but try to quantify what you can. If you don’t have specific numbers, you can still emphasize your impact by using powerful verbs such as streamlined, increased, decreased, improved, reduced, generated, or slashed and then generalizing the results without attaching a numeric figure.
- Poor Spelling and Grammar
If your resume is littered with misspelled words, improper grammar, and other glaring mistakes, it can make you look unprofessional and as though you put little effort into your work. An employer may wonder what it says about the work you will produce for them or their clients and the impression that creates.
Take the time to carefully review your resume and check for mistakes. Read it out loud to catch missing words or confusing statements. Have at least one other person proofread it as well to pick up on things you may have missed. There are also a variety of online tools to help polish things up.
- Unclear Career Path
Having a history of jobs that appear unconnected or irrelevant to what you want to do can be a red flag on your resume. It can seem as though you don’t know what you want to do and are not really committed to any particular job or building skills in any specific area.
You want to create a clear tie between what you have done in the past and what you want to do next. Show transferable and relevant skills and accomplishments. How have previous roles helped to shape you into a good fit for the position for which you are now applying? What can you bring from those experiences into your next role? Don’t make employers guess about who you are or where you’re headed – tell a story that they can follow. Starting out your resume with a strong summary can quickly help a potential employer make that connection.
Don’t let a subpar resume rife with red flags keep you from moving forward in your job search. Working with a professional resume writer can help you effectively position yourself and make a positive impact regardless of your career history. Contact Grammar Chic at (803) 831-7444 or resumewriting@grammarchic.net to get started.
