7 common resume mistakes fresh grads make

With the classes your university or polytechnic hold for resume writing and the vast amount of information you can find online, you would think you know how to write a great resume by now. But many fresh graduates kick-start their job hunting process with a resume filled with mistakes that cost them job opportunities.

Don't be one of them. These resume mistakes are easily avoidable.

They don't proofread their resumes

You don't want employers to read a resume peppered with spelling and grammatical mistakes - and we can't emphasise on this point enough. The last three to four years of education means nothing when your resume is full of spelling blunders. Proofread your resume and cover letter before sending it out. If you're not confident enough, you can always ask a friend to help.

They use basic job descriptions in their work experiences

Using basic job descriptions of any previous work experiences you have will not make you stand out from other candidates. Instead, highlight and showcase your skills by choosing the right wording and syntax. For example, avoid writing, 'Responsible for media monitoring' - instead, make it stronger with, 'Coordinated daily reports on media by monitoring print, online and social media channels.'

They have too many pages in their resume

Because employers have numerous resumes to read through, they don't have the luxury of time to browse through each and every one of them. Keep your resume short and its content succinct. Remember the one-page rule, especially as a fresh graduate with no work experience. Any longer than this means including irrelevant information that employers don't care for.

They write information irrelevant to the job scope

So you might not have enough work experience to beef up your resume, but is it really necessary to include what you did in primary and secondary school? On that same note, pick only relevant accomplishments such as valedictorian or president in an extra-curriculum club to put in your resume.

They include improper email addresses

Ask yourself: If you were an employer, would you hire somebody with [email protected] as an email address? Avoid including such email addresses in your contact details - you might also want to reconsider using your university email as well. Instead, use variations of your name. Think of this address as your work email. So spell out your full name and put on an appropriate display picture.

They include their expected salary

Employers usually have a salary in mind for their potential new hire. Including your expected salary would only give the impression that you're only after money or you're too expensive for them to employ. The only time it is appropriate to put your expected salary in your resume is when they ask for it. Even then, give a range so that you will have room for negotiation.

They use an unprofessional picture

They say 'First impressions count,' and they are right. If you're going to use a picture of you on vacation or out with your friends, you can expect your resume to end up a dust in the pile. To play it safe, stick with a head shot photo, similar to a passport picture, with you in a suit looking neat and tidy.

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