By Paris Close
What do you think will be the most time-consuming thing you’ll have to do by college graduation? Unpacking? Job searching? Sleeping?! Those are all good guesses, and you almost had me sold on that last one, but truth be told, only one thing will dominate every facet of your life going forward: resumes.
Arguably the scariest six-letter word known to college grads, your resume will be the bane of your existence. But because there are mistakes to avoid when writing a resume, I’m going to save you all the stress that comes with creating a resume — because we’re best friends, duh. So, chillax, and let’s start with five resume mistakes you do not want to put on your resume.
1. Awards/achievements
First resume mistakes is putting in your awards or achievements. I know, you didn’t work four restless years making the Dean’s List not to show it off on your resume. I get it. But not many employers care that you were an honor student. You’re there to snag a job, not gloat about scoring 100/100 on an exam. If anything, you should be relieved. I only made the Dean’s List twice in college, and sometimes passing those gen ed courses was like trying to win the Hunger Games. So, believe me when I say, there are more important things to put on your resume than your academic accomplishments — like your work experience.
2. Objectives and mission statements
Second common resume mistake are objectives and mission statements. I never understood the importance of mission statements. It’s like, you already know why I’m applying for this position — because I totally want it, obvs! On a resume, your experience should be the deciding factor in getting an interview or not. If an employer calls you in for an interview, express your objectives then. That’s not to say that a well-written introductory statement summarizing your strengths and experience is a bad idea, especially if writing is important to the job. Just make sure it is unique (standing out from the crowd is the key) and no more than two short sentences. To help you, here are some interview tips that can guide you.
3. References
Third common resume mistake is putting in your references. I know it sounds like a strange one to leave off, but let me explain. It was common to include references on resumes when I was in high school, even if they were only teachers (and supervisors, if you were lucky enough to have had a job in high school — in which case, I envied you). A lot has changed since then, though, and the majority of applications require you list references anyway. So leave the references off your resume and use the extra space for your experience. If references are required, you can always submit them on a separate document.
4. Social media
OMG! Another resume mistake is putting in your social media accounts! PLEASE DO NOT include your Twitter or Facebook info on your resume. You’d be surprised at how casual resumes are becoming these days. I mean, there’s an exception for those pursuing social media positions, but it’s still a bold move. You may not have anything to hide, but you should still distinguish your personal from your professional life. Email contacts have become increasingly more popular than phone numbers, but including your phone number and your email address is a good practice. Just make sure to use a professional email address like [email protected]. Don’t use your personal [email protected]!
5. Volunteer work
Last common resume mistake is volunteer work. This is tricky, because I’ve found that listing volunteer work on a resume can be both useful and useless at times. I’ll explain why. If you’re just now kick-starting your resume and have little work experience, go for it! List your volunteer work. It’s a healthy way to get your foot in the workforce door. But, as you start landing real jobs and internships, list your professional experience, rather than volunteer work. Most employers didn’t care that I worked at Salvation Army soup kitchens — even though it was over 50 hours. The exception is if you’re applying for a job where volunteer experience is important. Then, you’ll definitely want to include it. Building your resume is the toughest job when you’ve just graduated — especially when all you really want to do is fall on your comfy bed. But, it’s essential to your success. I’ve had years of hit-or-miss experiences with my own resume, and I hope that sharing these mistakes to avoid when writing a resume will make your process much more graceful than my own.
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