3 Common Redflags on Resumes

Most resumes are not terrible-- but they’re nothing special either. Here are three resume faux pas to avoid (whether you're applying or hiring).

1. No results. Jobseekers are often diligent about explaining their responsibilities in great detail, says Rajat Taneja, executive vice president and chief technology officer at Electronic Art, in a recent LinkedIn post, but resumes should highlight results.

He wrote:

The more quantitative, the easier for a screener or hiring manager to understand and select them for the next discussion. Numbers and metrics speak louder than words. Vague generalities are the kryptonite of a resume.

2. An unexplained gap. If a resume doesn't explain a three-year absence from the workforce or multiple career paths, consider it a redflag.  

“Candidates should put on the hiring manager’s hat and look at their own resumes with this filter and then proactively address any of these issues in a clear and unambiguous way,” Taneja wrote. 

3. Sloppy formatting. With all of today’s tools to artfully arrange a document, not to mention spellcheck, a resume should be thoughtfully constructed and meticulously scrubbed for errors.