Resume Mistakes that Give You Away as Entry Level
Posted December 22nd, 2014
Resumes are meant to be honest and accurate, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be crafted to make you look more impressive than you really are. Unfortunately, the reverse is also true. Simple mistakes can give you away as entry level, call your credentials into question, and raise immediate red flags for hiring managers. Make sure you are putting your best face forward by eliminating these common mistakes from your resume.
Too Long
If you are trying to hide the fact that you are an entry-level candidate, it can be tempting to overstuff your resume with any and all information you think could be relevant. But hiring managers spend less than 30 seconds scanning your resume, and if it’s too long, you are simply making it harder to digest quickly. Ideally, everything would fit on one page.
Too Much Text
Every entry on your resume should be clear and succinct. Use bullet points, font sizes and even bolded text to draw the eye of hiring managers to the most essential information. Having big blocks of text or dense lists simply confuses things and makes it look like you are trying to overstate or manipulate your credentials.
No URLs
You are probably submitting your resume electronically, and employers will want to see your professional profile on a site like LinkedIn. Make sure that you include links to make it easier for them to find you. Having to hunt you down is frustrating and makes it look like you are trying to hide a lack of experience.
Emphasis on the Past
One of the clearest indicators that you are an entry-level candidate is trying to reach too far into your past to demonstrate your experience. Employers care about your last one or two jobs, not what you did in high school. If your revised resume feels too short or empty, find ways to emphasize the value you delivered to past employers by using clear metrics and verifiable statements.
Reference Section
Including a reference section on your resume is always a waste of space. Unless an employer specifically asks you to include references on your resume, leave this section off. The employer is either not interested in contacting references, or will ask you for more information during the interview. Ultimately, providing information that employers don’t want makes you look like a rookie with little job search experience.
Being an entry-level candidate doesn’t have to be an obstacle to your job search. After all, everyone had to start somewhere. But it’s important that you don’t conflate your lack of experience with a lack of ability, which is why your resume has to look and read great. If you’re just starting on your career path and want to maximize your chances for success, work with the team at Bayside Solutions.
