Common Resume mistakes

Handshakes

Are extremely important in the job search
A good handshake that makes a positive impression:
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Firm
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Dry
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Full contact, palm to palm
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Gender neutral. Women and men give and receive the same type of handshake.
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Held for about two to three seconds
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Eye contact during handshake
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Exchange verbal introduction or greeting during handshake
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Smile (unless handshake occurs during expression of condolence or other situation in which a smile would not convey the appropriate message)






Acknowledging a job offer

Courtesy dictates that you acknowledge a written job offer, even if you are not ready to accept or decline it. Take note of the details of the offer, as specified in your offer letter, and respond appropriately.

Items to remember:

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Thank the employer for the opportunity presented.

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Indicate that you understand the terms of the offer, or if you don’t, ask for clarification.

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A smart employer will know that you need to consider various employment options in order to make a wise decision; you may need to compare the offer to another pending offer.

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However, you may need to make a decision before you know whether or not you will receive another offer.

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Consult a Career Services Advisor if you need assistance handling offers or making a decision.







Most frequent resume mistakes
Please, be original. Don't make these common mistakes.

Mistake:
Inventing a new name for the university
Correct:
Use the full name, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, or use the official shortened name, Virginia Tech. Or use the full name with the shortened name in parentheses for future reference.

DO include the location as "Blacksburg, Virginia" (or you may abbreviate state names).

DON'T include street addresses and zip codes of school and work locations.


Mistake:
Listing a personal web site that contains inappropriate content.
Correct:
See listing your personal web site URL on your resume


Mistake:
Using really small fonts
Correct:
Employers are typically reading many resumes, and are taking less than half a minute to read one.

Really small fonts are hard to read and don't photocopy as well. (That applies to your address block as well.)

What's too small? Generally don't go smaller than a 10 point, but notice that all font styles aren't sized equally. For example, a 10 point Arial font is smaller than a 10 point Antique Olive.


Mistake:
Really wide margins with content squeezed in the middle.
Correct:
Your margins should be at least one half inch. You really don't need more than one inch.

Lots of students ask if their resumes have "enough white space." An employer isn't reading white space.

Employers are reading your content, and you want it to be easy to see.


Mistake:
Long wordy descriptions in your objective and elsewhere.
Correct:
You don't need complete sentences in your resume.

Concise, understandable phrases are sufficient.

Look at the examples in resume formats and samples.

Ask for a Career Services advisor's assistance in editing your resume through walk-in advising.


Mistake:
Typos.
Correct:
You have one chance to make a first impression. In many cases, your resume, or your resume plus a cover letter, are the only things an employer has to base an impression of you.

The resume is a critical document for presenting yourself. The view is that if you would make a mistake on your resume, you'll probably make a lot more mistakes on the job.

It's easy to miss your own typos. Use spellcheck, but remember it won't catch every error. Frightening example: If you leave the first "l" out of "public relations," spellcheck is not going to let you know. Get the idea? Ask friends to proofread.


Mistake:
Using too complicated a format; getting too creative.
Correct:
The employer typically spends about 15 to 30 seconds reading your resume.

Keep the layout simple and clean (like the examples in resume formats and samples).

Avoid too many layers of indentation.

Use one font size for the document; only make your name larger.

Don't mix font types.


Mistake:
Using a unique, creative layout or style to stand out from the crowd.
Correct:
The best way to stand out from the crowd is with high quality content and a clearly written, neat, error-free document.

Employers are looking for content, not fancy or dangerously creative layout.

Don't stand out for the wrong reason.