4 Mistakes People Make When Writing a Resume

4 Mistakes People Make When Writing a ResumeAs a Chemical Platoon Sergeant in the Army I wrote my first resume when I was eighteen years old. That means I have been in the workforce since then and have done hundreds of resumes, including some pretty great ones. So I have some pretty good ideas about what is good in a resume as well as some common mistakes that most people make.The most common mistake I see in resumes is to understate what you do. The average person only puts in enough information to make their resume look good. They may also be hoping that the recruiter will see all the nice things they have done and overlook the important things. However, the recruiter wants to see what makes you the best person for the job. So make sure you don't put any more into your resume than you need to.Another mistake I see is to put too many links or direct references to other websites. These may seem like a good idea, but in reality they can completely kill your chances of getting hired. R ecruiters go through the information and read it one time. They are not going to take the time to check through all of your references. You want to emphasize what sets you apart from the rest of the candidates, so focus on that first.Another common mistake is to list too many options or to include too much information. For example, let's say you would like to be a plumber. You should list the responsibilities that plumbers have on the job. Include your areas of specialization. Also include what the plumber's bonus is and what is expected of them as far as time.Another mistake I see is that people usually try to sell themselves and try to make their resume look professional. They use too many graphics or too many fancy fonts. No matter how good your resume looks, if it doesn't tell the recruiter anything about you that is valuable they are not going to hire you. Make sure you use bullets so that you are able to write down just a few bullet points without it looking like a sales lette r. If you only have one or two sentences to explain yourself then a sales letter may be necessary.A third common mistake I see is to list all of your interests. But I am not talking about something you like to do as an activity or something you did in high school or college. What I am talking about is something you enjoy doing now. So for example, if you enjoy tennis, why not list your favourite tournaments and competitions.The fourth common mistake is to be 'boring'. If you are trying to convey that you are down to earth and do not care about your appearance or anything else, then that is a big turn off. However, if you are excited about being in the army and would like to make a difference in the world, then that can also be an asset to a recruiter.So these are some of the most common mistakes I see when writing a resume. I would like to add that there are some very talented recruiters out there. In fact, if you are having trouble with the resume writing, then they may be able to help you.