When it comes to resumes, many people may find that they are still using the same format from decades ago—especially if they are re-entering the job market after years of employment. While it is an admirable goal to get your work history on paper, we at Chic Resumes know that presentation of your skills and experience will often be what influences an employer to call you back for an interview—or not.
Whether you are revisiting your resume after a long hiatus or are creating one for the first time, avoiding these top formatting mistakes could help amp up your attractiveness in the job market:
Super Long
Every professional should be proud of his or her work—we get it. However, listing every single detail and experience can often come across as a mess to employers and recruiters. Remember that a resume should provide enough specific detail to intrigue your target and should not contain any information that is irrelevant to the position you are applying for.
In most cases, a one-page resume will suffice, and employers will love only having one page to review. Those who are senior level executives or professionals that carry extensive career histories may find that a two-page resume is necessary, but it is important to use discretion in these situations. Having a comprehensive resume for your own reference can be a great way to have everything in one document, making it easier to edit down when you are applying for a specific position.
Pictures Aren’t Perfect
When individuals find themselves trying to fill up space on their resume, many will make the mistake of putting pictures of themselves—or work—on their resume. Having a photo on a resume can be a sign of inexperience, landing your application in the trash. Resumes are for words—not images.
If you do have images relevant to your work experience, it is best to direct the employer to an online portfolio or to submit this material independently. If you want to put a face to your name, including a LinkedIn link on your resume is a great way to help employers become more familiar with who you are as a person.
Fancy Fonts
The selection of fonts in the world is never-ending, but that does not mean you should use all of them—especially in professional circumstances. There are a few fonts that are deemed acceptable standards in the resume world, such as Times New Roman. While you may want to spice up your resume with a fancy font, understand that this may come off as a juvenile formatting decision to an employer.
A Jumble of Data
While many job seekers may understand the need for a one-page resume, some may make the mistake of trying to cram as much information as possible onto the document. Using small fonts and avoiding adequate spacing will likely give an employer a headache and make it difficult for them to process what you are capable of.
Resumes should have an appropriate amount of white space—including conservative margins—so that your work history is easy on the eyes. Utilizing resume sections in the right fashion can help break up your experience as well, and can ensure a smooth and appealing format that will encourage employers to call you back.
Avoiding the Biggest Resume Formatting Mistake
No matter how perfect your self-created resume may look, you may still be in danger of making one of the biggest formatting mistakes—not having a third party look it over. If you are in need of formatting assistance or want to edit down and revise your work history, give Chic Resumes a call at (803) 831-7444
(803) 831-7444 or email resumewriting@grammarchic.net—our staff carries exceptional expertise in formatting, editing and writing beautiful resumes!
