8 out of 10 people make these 5 mistakes when writing their resume

Let’s get real, they aren’t so many mistakes as there are new parameters and evolutions of the job application systems. In the past when resumes were being opened and read by real people none of the below wouldn’t be seen as a mistake. However, in today’s world of mass processing of resumes by Application Tracking Software (ATS), here are some common mistakes that could cause you to not be selected:  

  1. Included graphics or pictures 
    Graphics and pictures can harm your resume more than they can help. Graphics and images are unreadable by ATS systems, take up too much physical space, and increase the size of your resume. The ATS system calculates your score based on the words in your resume, not images. If there are images or graphics you would like considered, put a link to your portfolio or include it on your LinkedIn page.   

  2. Used columns or text boxes  
    Your resume is ultimately translated into a .txt file from the document you upload. Whether it’s a PDF or a Word document, words in textboxes or columns can be processed as an image and excluded from the ATS conversion. When you use textboxes or columns, chances are you’re losing out on valuable words to help increase your ATS score. Tip: Save your resume as a .txt file to see how the ATS could potentially convert your resume. 

  3. Had incorrect date formatting 
    Having the correct date formatting ensures the ATS can accurately calculate your years of experience. By abbreviating the month or using short text years, the ATS could incorrectly calculate your years of experience and disqualify you for the job. Spell out months and years; for example, write January 2018 – July 2021 or 2018 – 2021. 

  4. Sent their resumes as flattened PDFs
    Unless explicitly indicated by the application system that a PDF is acceptable, the best format to submit your resume is in .doc or .txt. ATS converts your resume into a text file to be scanned, read, and scored. Depending on the software you use, when you save your resume as a PDF, text can become flattened and ultimately unrecognizable by the ATS. 

  5. Used long-format hyperlinks 
    ATS systems recognize long format hyperlinks as a cyber threat and can automatically exclude your resume from the system for fear of a cyber-attack. Try to use short format hyperlinks excluding the http://www. For example instead of www.linkedin.com/yourname, use linked.com/yourname instead.