Y0ur resume is all wr0ng!

Written By Kirby Clarity Coaching

(5 Minute Read)

Who loves writing resumes? I’m sure not many of you do!

I started my first resume in high school when I was applying to colleges. In my first year orientation at Penn State, we had a resume writing contest. I won “Best Resume.” They gave me a free portfolio as a prize. As I continued throughout undergrad, I added and edited as necessary, especially when I gained new executive board leadership positions, internships, jobs, research assistant positions, etc.

I tailored my resume again for grad school and again for when I finally did my job search. I have various versions of it ranging from every single thing I’ve done to just a couple things depending on the program or job I was applying for.

To this day, I’ve read thousands of resumes. As a former Assistant Residence Director hiring employees, resumes were a significant factor in the ultimate final decisions. As an Admissions Counselor, I saw resumes ranging from impressive to bare-bones. What I’ve gathered from reading all these resumes is that people are often making the same mistakes.

Here are 5 common things you’re doing wrong with your resume:

  1. Typos and grammatical Errors: Even minor mistakes are noticeable

  2. Generic objective statements: They don’t tell me enough about who you are and what you want to do

  3. Overusing buzzwords and clichés: Phrases like "results-oriented" or "team player" are overused and don't tell me what you’ve done

  4. Inconsistent formatting: Not having consistent font, size, and margins can make the resume hard to read

  5. Not tailoring your resume: Using the same exact resume is not productive for different job applications which can have different requirements

Here are the 5 things you can do RIGHT with your resume:

  1. Proofread carefully: Check for typos and grammatical errors. Have someone (like me!) proofread it as well

  2. Tailor your summary: Highlight relevant skills and accomplishments you have had instead of using a generic objective

  3. Use specific examples: Instead of clichés and buzzwords; demonstrate your skills with concrete and detailed examples

  4. Maintain consistency: Use clear formatting, headings, font, size, and margins, ensuring that it is easy to read

  5. Customize your resume: Tailor it to each job application, focusing on relevant skills and experiences that are noted in that job description

Need more help with your resume? Book a session with me!

Kirby Clarity Coaching