As competition in the job market increases, it is vital that your resume be free from errors; otherwise it could cost you an interview opportunity.

As an example, if a job listing calls for a social media manager and your work experience includes customer service or retail roles, this may not be relevant.

1. Not Organizing Your Past Positions in Reverse-Chronological Order

One of the worst resume mistakes is failing to organize work experience in reverse chronology order, making it more difficult for recruiters to quickly locate relevant information in your resume. To prevent this mistake, organize it so that most recent position listed first.

Reliance on vague or overused words to describe your work history section can also be a mistake; use powerful action verbs instead. "Responsible for" does not describe it effectively enough compared to, for example: "Managed the delivery of $200,000 worth of materials to site."

Be sure to include start and end dates for each position; this ensures the resume parser can recognize and match them to job descriptions. Likewise, spell out company names rather than using abbreviations/acronyms such as LLC, Inc, Co, or Corp as these may confuse the parser. Lastly, avoid using ALL CAPS when listing work history - using ALL CAPS is seen as evidence of poor spelling/grammar skills and must be avoided!

2. Not Including Relevant Skills

It is crucial that when applying for jobs that are similar to what you currently hold, that you include relevant skills and accomplishments that showcase your abilities. Don't go overboard; too much information may overwhelm hiring managers.

As a rule of thumb, when applying for any position it's wise to highlight only skills and experiences directly applicable. For instance if you're seeking an accounting job it would likely not help your case to mention your time spent working in restaurants as this won't prove beneficial in your application process.

Avoid using industry jargon when discussing your work experience, as this can make your resume sound unprofessional. Instead, use clear and action-oriented language when discussing past positions; for example: instead of writing "Responsible for coordinating materials to site", write: "Managed the delivery of $200K worth of steel, concrete and bricks - achieving 100% delivery schedule target." This shows your attention to detail while standing out among other candidates.

3. Not Including Relevant Experience

Focus on relevant experience when writing your resume. While it might be tempting to include every duty or project from previous jobs, doing so will only serve to disorient a recruiter and cause unnecessary confusion. Instead, highlight results you achieved and use active verbs when describing experiences; this will enable hiring managers to understand why you would make a good candidate for their position.

Submitting outdated employment information is another mistake to avoid. Hiring managers are looking for candidates with current technology skills and software knowledge; listing software you used two decades ago won't add anything meaningful.

Avoid vague cliches and outdated terminology when writing your job applications, except in applications specifically requiring flowery language. Buzzwords like "team player" or "go-getter" give off an impression of being stuck in the past; using such terms makes it more difficult for employers to identify keywords required by applicant tracking systems - having these words helps ensure a smooth screening process experience.

4. Not Including Relevant Qualifications

Too many skills or irrelevant jobs in your work experience section or listing irrelevant experiences may cause confusion for hiring managers and obscure the most essential information you want them to see. Furthermore, misspelled words or incorrect verb tense (like saying you "oversaw teams of engineers" when the appropriate language would be more precise is also problematic) should be avoided when writing or sending out resumes if these mistakes arise. To protect against making these costly errors in future resume submissions it may be worthwhile asking someone else to proofread your resume prior to sending it out for consideration.

Avoid listing personal hobbies and interests on your resume unless they pertain directly to the job you're applying for (such as volunteering). Hiring managers don't care about surfing or your favorite restaurants!

Avoid overused buzzwords like "go-getter" and "hard worker." Instead, focus on using action verbs like 'developed" and "managed." This allows the hiring manager to see that you possess the capabilities to make an impactful difference within their company.

5. Not Including Relevant Education

One of the biggest mistakes to avoid on a resume is including education that doesn't apply to the position you're applying for. You might think it important to list educational achievements like GPA; however, hiring managers are far more interested in understanding which skills you gained during your studies and how those abilities have been implemented on the job.

Be wary of award and accolades that do not directly relate to your chosen position, such as running a marathon or winning a spelling bee. Instead, focus on showing how valuable an employee you would be by highlighting achievements related to that position, like earning sales awards or being named employee of the month.

Use of buzzwords or jargon on your resume can backfire if the person reading it doesn't understand them, such as "achieved" and "enhanced". Instead, focus on powerful verbs that communicate your abilities effectively such as "achieved" and "enhanced".