It seems like the rules for resumes are constantly changing. And with the surge in artificial intelligence (AI) resume builders, it’s hard to think that resumes would still have common errors on them.
 
While AI can help you with your resume, remember that it can make mistakes, too. Below are five common mistakes our recruiting team still sees – and how to fix them.
 
Too Many Pages
The first rule of a great resume is to keep it concise. In most cases, a resume should not exceed more than one page unless you’re late in your career or have senior leadership experience. Even then, a resume should never go over two pages.
 
Use single line spaces and a smaller, but still legible, font to maximize space without sacrificing clarity.
 
Colors and Fonts
Too many colors and fancy fonts impact readability and make important information hard to find. Keep it clean with simple black fonts like Times New Roman, Calibri, Arial, or Helvetica.
 
No Contact Information
How is the person reviewing your application meant to contact you if you don’t give them your information? It may seem like a no-brainer, but many job candidates still forget to add phone numbers, emails, and city of residence below their names at the top of their resume. Double check that everything is accurate and up to date!
 
Wrong Order
We suggest listing your work experience in chronological order. In other words, list your most recent experience first, followed by your second most recent, and so on. If you don’t have any relevant experience, don’t worry. There are plenty of ways to build your resume and get work experience you may not have thought of.
 
Not Tailoring For the Role
If every job description is different, every resume should be too. But that doesn’t mean you need to build a new resume from scratch every time you apply for a job.
 
Create a standard resume, then customize it by plugging in keywords from each job description. If you’re interested in multiple fields or roles, maintain multiple versions of your standard resume and adjust as needed. Just make sure you keep your versions organized!
 
Small mistakes on your resume could determine whether you get an interview. Before submitting your application, take one last look to ensure yours is polished, professional, and presents you in the best light.
 
Tailor your resume for one of Reynolds’ job openings here.