What are the most common resume writing challenges?
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Resume writing is a skill that can make or break your chances of landing your dream job. However, it is also a skill that comes with many challenges and pitfalls that can frustrate and discourage you. In this article, we will discuss some of the most common resume writing challenges and how to overcome them.
One of the biggest mistakes that many job seekers make is using the same resume for every application. This can result in a generic and bland resume that fails to showcase your relevant skills, achievements, and fit for the role. To avoid this, you need to tailor your resume to each job by carefully reading the job description, identifying the keywords and phrases that match your qualifications, and highlighting them in your resume. This will help you stand out from the crowd and demonstrate your interest and suitability for the position.
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Rebecca Martinez
*Fairy Jobmother* | Senior Recruiter at Paramount Pictures 🎬 & Nickelodeon 🍿 | Self-proclaimed Linked[in]-fluencer ☑
On average, Recruiters spend anywhere from 7-10 seconds on a resume before deciding whether to move a candidate forward. This is why it’s so important to highlight relevant experience on your resume so Recruiters don’t have to hunt to find it. I recommend adding a “relevant experience” section at the top of your resume. This is helpful when you want to highlight previous experience instead of more recent experience. For example, maybe you want to apply for a marketing position and you have related experience from earlier in your career. Instead of listing it at the bottom of your resume, you can highlight it in the relevant experience section at the top of your resume so it’s the first thing recruiters see.
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Kevin Ha
Associate Recruiter at Naughty Dog
I always recommend tailoring your resume to the job you are looking for. This helps the reader picture you for the role. Some companies value different things, so being able to identify and highlight those within your resume is key.
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Praisy Christian
𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 | 4 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 + Content Views | 34𝐤+ Followers | Content Creator | Influencer- Collaboration | Personal Branding
Resume writing is a crucial skill, but it comes with challenges like clarity, formatting, length, addressing gaps, using keywords, demonstrating value, customization, avoiding overloading, and maintaining professionalism. Mastery of tense, focus on soft skills, and effective use of white space are also essential for a strong resume.
Another common challenge that resume writers face is formatting their resume for readability and ATS. Readability refers to how easy it is for a human reader to scan and understand your resume, while ATS refers to the automated tracking systems that many employers use to filter and rank resumes. To format your resume for both, you need to use a simple and consistent layout, avoid fancy fonts and graphics, use bullet points and headings, and keep your resume to one or two pages. You also need to use a standard file format, such as PDF or Word, and avoid tables, columns, and text boxes that can confuse the ATS.
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Marisol Maloney
🐿 Secret Squirrel Hunter 📝 I “Civilianize” Military Resumes 🪖 Military to Civilian Resume Writer & Trainer🎖️ Military Transition Consultant & Speaker 🐿️Top Secret Cleared Recruiter ⚓️ Navy Veteran
Write your resume for the human eye. The ATS I use as a recruiter shows me every resume as is. I reject unqualified applicants. There are two things I look at, the resume and the APPLICATION. Sometimes applicants have incomplete applications or answer required questions with a negative response. Meaning, a question could be something like are you at least 18 years of age? And if they answer no, then I can reject them. These are known as knockout questions. So sometimes, it's not your resume that gets you rejected, it's how you fill out your application. Yes, the ATS parses some of the information from your resume onto the application, but it doesn't always do it correctly so you HAVE to manually input the correct information.
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Kelsie Marks
Do you know how frustrating it feels to apply to 100’s of jobs and get rejected daily? With EducatedExit[dot]com, you learn how to target your ideal employers and land interviews without customizing 100’s of resumes.
The biggest mistake I see teachers making in formatting their corporate resumes is that they think colors, graphics, and pictures will help them stand out. this is really the opposite based on the feedback my team has received. You want a resume that is straight forward and easy to read.
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Lori Norris
Job Search Strategist, Resume Writer and Trainer ☑ Military Skills Translator who Helps Civilian Employers See YOUR Value! ☑ Podcast Host ▶▶ On a Mission to Educate Veterans in the Job Search Process
Take the focus off you in your resume. Though your resume is about your experience and your accomplishments, always focus on how your experience and accomplishments can add value to your potential employer. Remember, your resume should showcase what will make you a cost-effective employee and how you will benefit the organization.
The summary or objective is the first section of your resume that catches the attention of the hiring manager. It is a brief statement that summarizes your main selling points and career goals. However, writing a compelling summary or objective can be challenging, as you need to balance between being concise and persuasive. To write a good summary or objective, you need to focus on your value proposition, which is how you can solve the employer's problem or meet their needs. You also need to tailor it to the specific job and use keywords and metrics that demonstrate your impact.
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PakTam Nizam Ahmad
HR Manager. 15-years' in Oil & Gas, Digital & Government. Creator of Graduate Readiness for Employment and Apprenticeship Training #GREATbyPakTam #BrandedResume
I use this formula to create an impactful executive summary: 1. Who you are today eg. Education background, Years of Experience, List of Expertise, etc. 2. What is your key differentiator in your profession eg. job achievements, awards & recognitions, project completion, etc. 3. What is your career aspiration or preferred position as reflected from number (1) and (2). Eliminate career objective or personal profile because it will not help job matching.
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Madelyn Mackie, CCMC, NCOPE, Career Activator
𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬! Get Hired!! || Certified Career Coach ★ Resume Writer ★ LinkedIn Profile Expert ★ Over 160+ LinkedIn Testimonials 📣 2K+ HIRED & Activating Career Dreams!
Instead of a summary statement, list out your top career highlights with metrics. This will definitely catch the eye of the hiring manager and let them know the exact value you bring to the organization. Here's an example - CAREER HIGHLIGHTS ✔️Increased sales 58%+ and delivered millions in consumer impressions, both instore and online. ✔️Delivered 1B+ impressions with 29M SKUs in 15K+ stores. ✔️Grew sales 8% YOY and securing 52 media placements, including People, Entertainment Weekly, and O Magazine. ✔️Shorty Awards finalist for 20th anniversary influencer campaign.
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Madiyar Khopabayev
Well Engineering, Design and Optimization | Wells Safety Assurance and Integrity | Drilling and Wells Concept Design | Wells Completion and Intervention
I find it difficult to write a nice looking resume on 1-2 pages and still mention the major projects and achievements. Even when I try to focus on the last 5 years of the experience the resume gets over 3 pages.
One of the most effective ways to make your resume stand out is to quantify your achievements and skills. This means using numbers, percentages, and other metrics to show the results and outcomes of your work. However, many resume writers struggle with quantifying their achievements and skills, either because they don't have the data, they don't know how to measure their impact, or they don't want to sound boastful. To overcome this challenge, you need to think of ways to measure your performance, such as sales figures, customer satisfaction ratings, project deadlines, budget savings, or awards. You also need to use action verbs and power words that convey your accomplishments and skills.
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Neha Malhotra ↗️
RESUME WRITER✨LinkedIn Top Voice ✨ Keynote Speaker @ IIT MADRAS | IIM Bangalore ✨RESUME REVIEWER✨HR ✨LINKEDIN COACH✨LINKEDIN BRANDING ✨ JOB SEARCH STRATEGIST ✨ CAREER COACH ✨ Helping Job Seekers land amazing jobs✨
These are indeed the common challenges many of us face when writing a resume. It's all about finding that balance between showcasing our skills, customizing for each job, addressing any gaps or changes, and staying updated with the latest trends.
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Shawn Bertholf
Problem Solver & Project Manager with a passion for Continuous Improvement & knack for turning Dumpster Fires into Gold! Nerd who loves STEM! INFP & Creative AF! Veteran Advocate & Mentor - Read About Section for more
Again, I like the simplicity of Scott Vedder’s, “Signs of a Great Resume: Veterans Edition” All you have to do is look at the symbols (!@#$%) above the 12345 on your keyboard. In addition I tell my mentees every bullets point on your resume MUST have 4 elements: 1) Start with an action verb (don’t use the same thing over and over please - yawn 🥱) 2) It must explain WHAT you did. 3) It must explain the RESULT(S). 4) It must explain the IMPACT to the organization (most important part IMHO) Play with the sequence until it looks right If you need examples or don’t understand I recommend a small investment in Scotts book 📕 because the Return on Investment (ROI) is HUGE 📈 After this if you still need help Lori Norris is fabulous!
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Toni Frana, M.S.
Career Coach | Business Coach | Strategic Planning | Leadership Customer Success | Facilitator | Training | Consultant | Onboarding LinkedIn Strategist | ⭐️ Helping People and Businesses Maximize Their Potential ⭐️
While you do want to include quantifying metrics on your resume whenever possible, it's ok if every bullet doesn't have a metric. For those that don't, think about ways that the work made an impact - did you increase efficiencies? Did you decrease the amount of labor required to do something because you automated a process? Sometimes thinking about your responsibilities in terms of: If I didn't do this, what would the negative effect be, then taking that and turning it around into a positive/impactful bullet for your resume can work. Instead of: "Completed bi-weekly payroll", you could say: "Executed payroll services for 20 people on a bi-weekly basis ensuring time card deadlines were adhered to for on time delivery of employee pay."
Spelling and grammar errors are one of the most common and avoidable resume writing challenges that can ruin your chances of getting an interview. They can make you look unprofessional, careless, and unqualified. To avoid spelling and grammar errors, you need to proofread your resume multiple times, use a spell checker and a grammar checker tool, and ask someone else to review your resume. You also need to avoid jargon, slang, and acronyms that can confuse the reader or the ATS.
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Sohaib Hasan
UAE Golden Visa Holder | Brand Ambassador @BaggageTAXI-Dubai | Drive for Innovation | Passion for Technology
Avoiding spelling and grammar errors is crucial when creating your resume. Mistakes in your resume can make a negative impression on employers and suggest a lack of attention to detail. To prevent this, thoroughly proofread your resume, use spell check tools, and consider having someone else review it. A well-written, error-free resume conveys professionalism and can help you stand out as a qualified candidate in the eyes of potential employers.
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Mark Rosen, MBA
Rated⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Comprehensive Resume Packages: ATS compatibility for 300+ algorithms ~ Recruiter approved format ~ FREE job search guide for LI Profile Update, Cover Letters, Interviews, and more! 🔎 Recruiter 🔍
If I had a nickel for every resume we analyzed that had "manger" instead of "manager", I could take my wife out for a fancy dinner. Spellcheck can't catch that and neither will grammar check. They are both nouns so will be correctly placed in the sentence. The best way to spell check is to read words from the bottom up. Don't read sentences, look at the words. Some grammar tips from our editor: YOU are not in the resume so remove ALL personal pronouns. Articles (a, an, the) are not necessary to the average reader. Get rid of them. Bullet points are NOT full sentences so don't have periods at the end. Sentences contain a single idea, not multiple.
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Kevin Ha
Associate Recruiter at Naughty Dog
A quick way to get negative points is to have spelling and grammar errors in your resume. It shows a lack of attention to detail and care. What kind of effort are you going to put in as an employee if you are already lacking as a candidate? Consider having multiple people read and review your resume to have a fresh set of eyes on it. We often overlook mistakes because we are continuously reading the same sentences over and over again. Try using spelling and grammar tools (Grammarly as an example) to help reduce your errors.
The last challenge that we will discuss is showing your personality and passion in your resume. While your resume should be professional and factual, it should also reflect who you are and what motivates you. This can help you connect with the hiring manager and show them that you are a good fit for the company culture and values. To show your personality and passion, you need to use a confident and positive tone, include hobbies and interests that are relevant to the job, and mention any volunteer or extracurricular activities that demonstrate your skills and values.
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Carmen D.
Talent Acquisition Specialist | DEIB Advocate at Schell Games~Powered by Talent Driven by Games
How you present yourself on your resume can make all the difference. By showcasing your personality and passion, you can stand out from the crowd and demonstrate your unique value to potential employers. Tailor your resume to the job you're applying for, highlight personal accomplishments that show your passion, and don't be afraid to let your style shine through in the formatting and design. Remember, your resume is a reflection of who you are as a professional, so make it count and let your passion and personality inspire others. YOU GOT THIS!
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Keith Spencer
Career Guidance | Training and Instruction | Empowering and Educating Professionals to Support Successful Career Advancement
One thing that I have done to try to convey my personality and passion into my resume is including projects that I initiated or volunteered for that were outside the immediate scope of my work, because these same projects tend to align with the things that I personally enjoy or find fulfilling.
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Rebecca Henninger
Top Resume Writing Voice ✍🏻 Career Storyteller 🎯 Personal Branding Expert 💫 Job Search Coach 🙌🏻 Confidently, clearly articulate your value and attract your ideal work using my MARC ™ Branding Framework 💼
What's a fun fact about you? Are you a marathon finisher? An aspiring yogi? A master gardener? A black belt in karate?! I want to know, and so do hiring managers. Consider adding fun facts in 3 key places - your summary, an activities/interest section in your resume, and in your LinkedIn about section. We spend more time at work than anywhere else. It's ok to have personality; in fact, it helps a hiring manager envision you on their team.
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Alfredo 🤘 Torres
Executive Assistant at U.S. Forest Service
So much good advice here, so here is what I say, listen to all of it, or rather take what you need to formulate a strategy that works for you. Resumes are subjective and at the end of the day it's purpose is to get you and interview. If it is doing that, then its doing its job.
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Aline Mora
Mentor & Counselor I Talent & Employee Experience Executive with a diverse career within the most relevant Companies on High Tech & Pay Tech (Unicorn), Consumer Goods and Automotive Industries
5 Tips para dominar la actualización de tu CV -Tamaño: Destaca los últimos 5-7 años laborales ocupando un Máximo de 2 pag. - Evita Información Complementaria: Debes excluir dirección detallada, fotografía si no es profesional, hobbies, datos personales, referencias laborales, último sueldo, etc. - Sumario Profesional: Escribe un sumario que sea una vista previa de tu perfil y genere curiosidad, es decir, incluye Industrias, Funciones Fortalezas, Logros y Formas de trabajo - Experiencia Laboral: Asegura que incluyas Responsabilidades y Logros relevantes (Chat GPT puede ser un aliado al momento de redactarlo) - Sé autentico! para quien lo lea sienta curiosidad de conocerte! ¿Qué otros tips conoces y has aplicado?
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Jonathan Soormaghen
💎I create killer resumes to help senior professionals land $100K - $300K jobs ☄️ Founder of Resume Advisor™ 🏆 Executive Resume Writer at The Muse 📊 LinkedIn Branding Expert 🧠UC Berkeley Grad
Selling oneself on a resume can be tough. It's like that moment in an interview when you're asked, "Why you?" and your mind goes blank. Many wrestle with self-promotion, fearing they'll come off as braggarts. It’s a thin line between showcasing your strengths and feeling like you're boasting. Plus, writer's block hits hard; you've got the skills but not the words to express them. And let's not forget imposter syndrome, where you question if you're as competent as you claim. The trick? See your resume as telling your professional story where your skills are the main character, not as bragging, but as presenting your true achievements.