1. Copied by Dr. Harold Smith
Wretched Resumes
Ft. Worth Star Telegram
November 7, 2005
Copied by Dr. Harold Smith

2. Twelve Biggest Mistakes People Make with their resumes

3. Avoid at all cost!
1. Using distracting fonts, formats, or graphics. Even if you’re applying for an arts or graphics job, it’s a mistake to do an elaborate design. When you it to a hiring manager, there’s no telling what it will look like on his computer.

4. Avoid at all cost!
2. Taking an overly informal, conversational tone. This is wrong whether it’s in the resume itself or your cover letter, your correspondence with your potential employer—or the address you use.

5. Avoid at all cost!
addresses are free. Create a new one for your job search. You don’t want your business address to be

6. Avoid at all cost!
3. Including your salary requirements. It’s too soon to bring up the subject of money when you haven’t landed an interview.

7. Avoid at all cost!
4. Dissing your past and present employers. This makes you look bad. It signals you are not part of a team. You are not a team player.

8. Avoid at all cost!
5. Submitting a resume that’s more than three pages long.

9. Avoid at all cost!
6. Including hobbies and interests. You may think snowboarding makes you seem adventurous and well-rounded. The potential employer sees you in a hospital, in traction, unable to do your work.

10. Avoid at all cost!
7. Listing reasons for leaving current and past jobs. These are subjects you may discuss in an interview if brought up by the interviewer.

11. Avoid at all cost!
Dropping names of celebrities, politicians and business moguls.

12. Avoid at all cost!
Failing to catch typos. It calls into question your attention to details.

13. Avoid at all cost!
Lying on your resume.

14. Avoid at all cost!
Failing to attach a cover letter.

15. Avoid at all cost!
Failing to customize your resume to the job you are seeking.