Resume Red Flags: Bad Resume Examples & How to Avoid Them

Resume Disasters: Common Mistakes to Avoid

A well-crafted resume is more than just a list of your abilities and credentials. It provides recruiters with a clear understanding of your potential, drive, and background. While the content of your resume is crucial, issues with formatting, visuals, or grammar can negatively impact your chances of securing an interview. These seemingly minor errors can raise red flags and detract from your qualifications.

To create a compelling resume that avoids the rejection pile, let's examine some common mistakes found in poorly written resumes and how to avoid them.

Here are some key takeaways:

• Common resume mistakes to avoid.
• Effective approaches to fix potential resume issues.
• How resume builders can help you create a better resume.

1. Spelling and Grammar Mistakes

Submitting a resume or cover letter riddled with grammatical errors is akin to showing up to a job interview with mismatched shoes. It creates a negative first impression and suggests a lack of attention to detail.

Your resume and cover letter must be error-free. Even a minor typo can overshadow your qualifications. Proofreading is essential; use a spell-check program and manually review your resume. It's also beneficial to have someone else proofread it to catch any errors you might have missed.

Example:

Results-driven Project Manager with 4 years of expereince leading and managing multiple projects simultaneously, developing and maintaining project timelines and budgets, and implementing project management methodologys. Successful track record of increasing project completion rates, acheiving cost savings, an ensuring timely delivery of projects.

WORK EXPERIENCE
Project Manager
3/2022 – Present
Universal Ventures
Led and managed multiple projects simultaneously, resulting in an 15% increase in project completion rates.
Developed and maintained project timelines, budgets, resulting in an average project cost savings of 20%.

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES
Agile/Scrum Methodologys
Project Planning & Execution
Project Mangement

EDUCATION
Master of Science in Project Management
2013-2019
Boston University

While these errors might seem small, they demonstrate a lack of attention to detail. Always double-check your resume for grammar and spelling errors before submitting it.

2. Showcasing a Lack of Work Experience

Starting your career can be both exciting and daunting, and a sparse work experience section can add to the stress of the job search. While a lack of experience might suggest that you're a novice, that's often not the case for young professionals.

While lying on a resume might seem like a tempting shortcut, it’s never worth the risk. Instead of focusing on a short or irrelevant work history, choose a resume format that highlights what you do bring to the table, such as achievements, academic projects, and transferable skills.

Example:

Work Experience
1. Sales Assistant, Taluka Paper - June 2023 to August 2023
Assisted customers with product inquiries and selections.
Handled cash register operations and processed customer transactions.

Skills
Communication
Computer applications

Imagine this candidate is a recent graduate seeking a customer success role in SaaS. The bullet points above, while factually accurate, don't highlight the candidate's value or suitability for the target role.

Instead of "Assisted customers with product inquiries and selections," a more effective bullet point might be: "Increased monthly sales by 15% by assisting customers with product inquiries and selections, leveraging strong interpersonal communication and QuickBooks Point of Sale."

Similarly, instead of "Used the cash register," the bullet point could focus on the customer service aspect: "Handled cash register operations and processed customer transactions with a 99.5% accuracy rate, leveraging POS system operations and excellent customer relationship building—increasing customer satisfaction rate to 98%."

3. Using Unprofessional or Hard-to-Read Fonts

Even in creative industries, your resume should maintain a professional appearance. Stick to basic, readable fonts. Avoid fancy or intricate fonts that can be difficult to read, as well as casual fonts that might seem unprofessional.

Avoid using too many different fonts for headers, bullet points, and summaries, as this can make your resume appear disorganized and confusing.

4. Incorporating Everything You've Ever Done

While you want to provide potential employers with a clear picture of your professional self, your resume isn't meant to be an exhaustive autobiography. It should showcase the most relevant 10% of your experience that aligns with the target role. Keep it clear, concise, and impactful.

Instead of leading the hiring manager through every detail of your career, review the job description to understand their key requirements. Then, tailor your resume to prioritize the experience, accomplishments, and skills that demonstrate your suitability for the position, while omitting irrelevant information.

Example:

Work Experience
1. Intern, TechPlace - Anytown, USA August 2011 - May 2012 (worked Mondays, Wednesdays, and every other Friday)
Assisted in software installations
Participated in three team meetings
Watered office plants

2. Junior Administrative Assistant, Office - Smalltown, USA June 2010
Photocopied 100+ pages daily, once helped with a 105-page document.
Answered phones during lunch breaks, precisely between 12:15 PM and 12:45 PM.
Refilled the coffee machine and restocked sweeteners.

Focus on the experience that directly highlights what you can bring to the table in the new role. While you may have held brief roles like the ones above, emphasizing experience that showcases your potential is best.

5. Including Unnecessary Graphics or Pictures

While a picture may be worth a thousand words, an unnecessary image on your resume could cost you the job.

First, applicant tracking systems (ATS) can only parse text. If you present your work experience or skills section as a graph or image, the content won't be searchable within the ATS.

Second, hiring managers often review hundreds of applications and need to quickly understand your skills, experience, and accomplishments. Visuals can be distracting and hinder quick skimming.

Third, biases are a reality, whether subconscious or blatant. A headshot might help recruiters put a face to the application, but it can also make the hiring process less objective.

To ensure your application is seen, optimize your resume for ATS by making it easily scannable, which means avoiding pictures and graphics.

Example:

Imagine Claudia, a qualified software developer with five years of experience, applies for a role at a tech firm and includes a headshot. The hiring manager, David, has an unconscious bias and makes assumptions about Claudia based on her appearance.

A few days later, David receives a resume from Eldria, who has a similar skill set but no headshot. Without potential biases triggered by a photo, David focuses solely on Eldria’s qualifications, and she gets shortlisted for an interview, while Claudia does not.

6. Poorly Formatting Your Resume

Effective resume formatting is about more than just aesthetics; it ensures that recruiters can easily understand your value. Bullet points, headers, bold text, and proper spacing help break up information and make your resume skimmable.

Example:

Social Media Manager
Driven and successful Social Media Manager with 4+ years of experience developing and executing campaigns that have driven significant website traffic and generated leads, resulting in a 25% increase in followers and engagement, as well as a 20% increase in conversions across multiple platforms.

Work Experience
Social Media Manager
3/2022 – Present
White Mountain Holdings
Implemented a successful social media strategy resulting in a 25% increase in followers and engagement across all platforms
Developed and executed campaigns that drove significant website traffic and generated leads, resulting in a 20% increase in conversions
Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop and execute social media content that aligned with overall branding and marketing goals

Social Media Strategist
3/2020 – 3/2022
Redshift Technologies
Developed and managed social media calendars, resulting in a 15% increase in engagement and followers
Collaborated with design and content teams to develop visually compelling and engaging social media content

Social Media Specialist
3/2019 – 3/2020
Summit Solutions Group
Assisted senior social media managers in developing and executing social media campaigns and strategies.
Collaborated with cross-functional teams to gather information and create social media content.

Skills and competencies
Social Media Strategy Development
Social Media Campaign Planning & Execution
Social Media Calendar Management
Social Media Content Creation
Social Media Insights & Metrics

Without bolding, italics, underlining, or bullet points to separate sections, it's difficult to distinguish between the resume title and the "Skills" section. Remember, recruiters see many resumes, so make yours as easy to skim as possible!

7. Including Too Many Buzzwords

Words like "synergy," "leveraged," and "optimized" can be useful, but overusing them can make your resume seem insincere. Be genuine and use terms that accurately reflect your experience and skills. Knowing what not to include on a resume, such as excessive jargon or inflated job titles, is as important as knowing what to include.

Example:

Experience:
Global Strategic Visionary MegaCorp Intl., Big City, USA - 2022 to Present
Synergized cross-functional teams to elevate stakeholder engagement and maximize ROI.
Leveraged state-of-the-art techniques to streamline, optimize, and reinvent the wheel of customer interface processes.
Pioneered paradigm-shifting initiatives that transcended traditional business constraints.

Buzzwords aren't always bad, but they have a time and place. In a resume, it's best to balance powerful language with simplicity. While it might not be clear what it means to "synergize a cross-functional team," it's easier to understand "collaborate with cross-functional teams."

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some common design mistakes to avoid in a resume?

Common design mistakes include using multiple fonts and colors that can make a resume look unprofessional, overloading it with graphics or images that distract from the content, and neglecting white space which can make the resume appear cluttered. Stick to a clean, professional layout with a consistent font and color scheme to ensure readability.

How can I ensure my resume is tailored to the job I'm applying for?

To tailor your resume, start by carefully reading the job description and noting the skills and experiences required. Make sure to highlight your relevant accomplishments and use keywords from the job description. This shows employers that you have the specific qualifications they're looking for and that you've taken the time to personalize your application.

Is it a bad practice to include personal information on my resume?

Yes, including personal information such as your age, marital status, social security number, or photo can be a bad practice. Not only is it irrelevant to your job qualifications, but it could also lead to unconscious bias. Focus on your professional experience, skills, and education to keep the resume focused on your suitability for the job.