Here's What's Wrong With Your Resume

Don't be exhaustive—but it's okay to write more than a page

By Matt Cantor

Posted Apr 2, 2011 5:05 PM CDT

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Here's What's Wrong With Your Resume — Alison Green offers resume-writing tips. (Shutterstock)

Before you print 50 copies of your resume, check out this list of common mistakes—you’re probably making at least one, notes Alison Green in US News & World Report.

Using an outdated guide. The one-page rule, for example, doesn’t fly anymore.
Listing only job duties. Make sure to answer this question: “What did you accomplish in this job that someone else might not have?”

Not including volunteer work. If it's relevant experience, it matters.
Listing every single job you’ve had. This isn’t supposed to be exhaustive—just include what’s important.
Putting creativity over clarity. The simple goal: “a concise, easy-to-scan list of what you've accomplished.”

Click to read the full list. (More resume stories.)

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