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I get DMs and comments every day on TikTok from people saying how hard it is for them to find a job.
Many of them have applied to countless jobs and haven’t heard back. They won’t even get a declined email, which, in my opinion, is absolutely ridiculous.
One reason is they may not actually be qualified for the job, which can happen. I know I’ve heard people say to apply to jobs that you may not even be qualified for.
Another reason is they may have found a candidate that is better suited to the role, which often happens!
If you are looking for a free resume template, you can download mine for free!
Tailoring Your Resume
For many, though, I see resume issues ALL the time.
Everyone says they tailor their resumes to the jobs they apply to, and I get how hard that can be if you have applied to 200 jobs.
When I have been reviewing resumes recently, I have noticed many little errors that people make on their resumes that they may not even realize!
When you are constantly looking at your own resume, it’s easy to miss little errors here and there.
These are the most common mistakes I see when people send me their resumes.
Formatting Errors
I see formatting errors all the time on resumes; there are weird indentations, or not everything is lined up on either side.
I also sometimes see different font sizes throughout the resume.
Your font size should be consistent throughout the entire resume and should be a small enough size where EVERYTHING fits onto one page. Unless you have over 15 years of experience, then you can add another page, but it should be ONE page otherwise.
Some other formatting errors are not consistent throughout the resume.
If you are listing your job dates like this: January 2024 – May 2024.
Then all of your dates need to be formatted this way!
You can’t all of a sudden start listing some like this: Oct 2023 – Jan 2024.
CONSISTENCY MATTERS!
Spelling
I see so many spelling errors on resumes. To me, that is the bottom of the barrel of what you should be checking your resume for before you submit it!
Your resume should not have a single spelling error, I always use spell check or Grammarly to check the spelling on my resume.
Your eyes can easily miss something, so if you do not want to get passed over in the job search, then double-check your spelling!
General Tips
If you are currently working at a job, that job needs to be listed at the top of your resume, no matter what!
Your resume needs to be in reverse chronological order from the top.
You can’t just change up the order based on how much you liked working at another position. You need to list them in order!
When you list your job and add your bullet points for each job, make sure your current job’s bullet points are listed in the present tense.
Conversely, for your past jobs, make sure they are listed in the past tense!
Example of present tense:
Executive Administrative Assistant
XYZ Corporation | September 2020 – Present
- Manages complex calendars for C-suite executives, reducing scheduling conflicts by 25% through meticulous planning and proactive adjustments.
- Creates, manages, and optimizes property listings across various platforms, including Airbnb and VRBO, resulting in a 30% increase in bookings.
- Handles all guest communications and coordinates international travel arrangements, providing high-level customer service and achieving a 20% reduction in travel costs.
- Implements a new digital filing system, improving document retrieval time by 40% and reducing paper usage by 30%.
- Perform administrative tasks including billing, record keeping, and vendor bill payments, enhancing overall office efficiency by 15%.
Example of past tense:
Office Operations Coordinator
ABC Innovations | March 2018 – August 2020
- Streamlined office supply procurement, reducing annual expenses
- Managed a team of junior administrative staff, improving overall productivity
- Coordinated office relocations for 200+ employees across 3 sites
- Implemented a new visitor management system, enhancing security protocols
- Organized company-wide events for up to 500 attendees
- Developed and maintained the company’s internal communication platform
Your resume’s bullet points start with an action verb. There is no need on resumes to say “I did this” because the recruiter should already know that you did these things.
Your bullet points should be concise and QUANTIFIABLE!!!
It is so much easier for a recruiter who is skimming over your resume to see that you managed a team of 11 people or helped organize 150 events!
You want your resume to be able to be skimmed over quickly and have someone be impressed with the little information they will have retained.
I also recommend to bold any keywords that are listed in the job description that you also have experience with!
It makes it easier for the recruiter to see those keywords stand out and know that you are proficient in that skill.
If you have never written a resume, there is nothing wrong with searching for resumes online and copying the formatting of those resumes.
It is always best to write things in your own words, but using other samples can help ensure you are writing everything down properly!
I also made this video on how to use Chat GPT to help write your resume. AGAIN, please hummaize and verify what it says.
But it is a great tool that can help you!
Good luck with your resume, and happy job hunting!
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