Common Resume Mistakes:

When writing a resume it can be hard to figure out what employers want. You can have many professionals review your resume and everyone will have a different opinion. Below are some tips on how to write a better resume and how to avoid looking like the rest of the competition.

1.      Be Specific

One of the biggest mistakes that I have seen when reviewing resumes and one that I have personally made is not being specific. For example, when listing relevant course work or skills don’t list something general like statistics. You should be specific such as mathematical statistics, time series modeling, non-parametric modeling, etc. Companies want to see exactly what you know and how you can help them.

 

2.      But Not Too Specific

I like to be as honest and upfront as possible but sometimes this can lead to listing irrelevant information. For example, if you have worked at a company and have been promoted twice you should only list your most current position. Make sure to list any relevant skills you have acquired throughout all of your work at that company but having multiple positions typically doesn’t add any useful information.

 

3.      No General Resumes

Write a resume specifically for the job or type of job you are applying for. I know it is time consuming to write a resume or cover letter but make sure the document is specifically for that type of position. For example, I have a marketing, corporate finance, quantitative finance, data scientist, trading, and investment banking resume. Each resume is targeted to a specific job which means that all of the resume should be relevant to the position I am applying for.

4.      Write For The Position Not Yourself

Don’t write a resume based on what you think has helped you the most; write a resume that is specifically for the employer. For example, I worked at a start-up company for 8 years and I personally think my wide array of skills make me valuable because I can learn quickly and can get anything done based on my experience. When I listed these skills I couldn’t get interviews or call backs because companies don’t understand how this would help them. Everyone has more skills than would fit on one page but you really need to think about the skills you have that employers will pay money for. Don’t list experience if it isn’t relevant. When I read a resume and there are irrelevant topics I get frustrated and just skim the rest of the resume with the intent of throwing out the resume.

 

5.      Guide The Reader

Everyone that reads a resume is busy whether they are an HR recruiter, a managing director, or a network contact reviewing your resume. The most important sections of your resume should be the largest and the most important information should be at the top. For example, you should always list your experience in chronological order but the most important experience should be listed at the top of that job section. I thought my work experience was valuable but companies didn’t and when I made my past work experience smaller and my education section larger more companies started contacting me.