Stop Making These Resume Mistakes!

Let's be real—job hunting is tough. But sometimes, job seekers make it harder on themselves by committing silly resume mistakes. So, if you're serious about job hunting, here is some real talk  (with a side of humor) to get your resume in shape.

Thursday Tips 101: 

1. Stop Sending Your CV in .doc Format – It’s Not 2005!

Unless you want your resume to show up looking like an MS Paint disaster, stick to PDFs. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) love PDFs, recruiters love PDFs, and your future self will love PDFs when your perfectly formatted CV doesn’t end up looking like scrambled eggs.

Moral of the story? Save it as a PDF, always!

2. Your Resume is a Resume, Not a Novel

If you have 5, 10, or even 20 years of experience, nobody—and I mean nobody—wants to read a 10-page autobiography about your career. Keep it within two pages, or risk your resume being lost in the abyss of recruiter fatigue.

If you absolutely can't trim it down, consider hiring a professional - because recruiters are not archaeologists. 

3. Nobody Cares About What You Did in 1999

Reality check: If you have 20+ years of experience, companies mainly care about what you’ve done in the last 10-15 years.

Recruiter: “So tell me about your recent leadership experience.”Candidate: “Well, in 1999, I built a website using HTML 1.0...”Recruiter: “…Sir, this is a Wendy’s.”

If your recent experience is about managing managers, directors, or strategy, highlight that! 

4. Your Resume is Not an Art Project

Listen, unless you're applying to Bollywood, Hollywood, or the fashion industry, your big, flashy photo, colorful fonts, and comic sans typography are just not needed.

No: Neon green headers, curvy fonts, excessive emojis 😎Yes: Simple, clean, professional formatting (think Calibri, Arial, or Times New Roman, Roboto, Helvetica etc..)

Remember, the goal is to impress with your experience, not blind the recruiter with your creativity.

5. Be Professional—Talk About Money Openly

Hiding your current salary and expectations from headhunters isn’t mysterious or strategic—it’s just a waste of time.

Recruiter: "What are your compensation expectations?"Candidate: "I’d prefer not to disclose at this time."Recruiter: "Okay, moving on to the next candidate who actually answers the question."

Pro tip: No, your recruiter will not send your salary details to your in-laws or ex wife. Just be upfront—it speeds up the process and helps you get better offers.

Final Word: Keep it Simple, Keep it Clean!

Recruiters aren’t your enemies - they want to help you land the right job. In fact, it’s literally their job to get you a job. But if your resume makes their life harder, don’t be surprised if it gets ghosted faster than a bad Tinder date.

Moral of the story? Stick to a PDF, keep it short, highlight relevant experience, ditch the fancy fonts, and be transparent.

Happy job hunting! 🎯

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