With over a million Australians actively looking for work and millions more considering a job shift, the competition for your next role has never been more intense. This is especially true when a single job ad can attract over 40 applications, according to recent data.
In this crowded market, your resume is the key to getting noticed. But what if you're making crucial mistakes, you don't even know about? As recruiters, we see these errors all the time—and they can be the difference between landing an interview and getting overlooked.
Here are five important tips to update your resume by correcting the most common mistakes job seekers make.
Mistake #1: Your resume is a history book, not a marketing document.
Many people feel the need to list every single job and responsibility they've ever had. This "everything but the kitchen sink" approach buries your most valuable experience and makes it difficult for recruiters to quickly see if you're the right fit.
Tip 1: Be a Curator, not a Historian
Your resume is a marketing tool. Its only job is to sell you for the specific role you're applying for. Focus on your last 10-15 years of work history and be ruthless about cutting anything that isn't relevant to the job description. Instead of listing every detail, curate a narrative that highlights the skills and achievements most important to your potential new employer.
Mistake #2: You're listing duties, not achievements.
A resume filled with duties ("Responsible for managing a team...") sounds like a copy-paste from a job description. It doesn't tell a recruiter what you actually carried out, which is what they truly care about.
Tip 2: Quantify Your Impact
This is arguably the most important tip. Quantify your accomplishments with numbers, percentages, and metrics. Show the impact you had. For example:
Instead of: "Managed a team."
Try: "Managed a team of 10, increasing productivity by 20% within six months."
Instead of: "Reduced project costs."
Try: "Reduced project costs by $50K by implementing a new procurement strategy."
This is the language of success, and it proves you're a high-impact professional.
Mistake #3: Your resume is difficult to read.
Recruiters scan resumes for an average of just 6-8 seconds. A document with inconsistent formatting, tiny fonts, or a cluttered design is an immediate turn-off.
Tip 3: Prioritise Clean, Readable Formatting
Simplicity is key. Use a professional, clean font like Arial or Calibri, and use a standard 11 or 12-point size. Utilize clear headings, bullet points, and white space to make the document easy to skim. Your resume should be a pleasure to look at, not a puzzle to solve.
Mistake #4: You're using a generic resume for every application.
Sending the same resume to dozens of jobs is a common, and often fatal, mistake. Recruiters can tell when you haven't taken the time to tailor your application to their specific role and company.
Tip 4: Tailor Your Resume for Every Application
Read the job description carefully and use it as your guide. Mirror the language and keywords used in the job ad. If they ask for "Agile project management experience," make sure that phrase is on your resume. This shows the employer that you're a perfect fit and helps your application get past Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that filter for keywords.
Mistake #5: You're focused on the past, not the future.
Your resume should tell a story, and the hero of that story should be what you can do for the employer right now. A resume that just recites your history misses the point.
Tip 5: Focus on Your Value
Begin your resume with a concise, compelling professional summary or profile. This section should be a few sentences that quickly summarize your ability and say the value you can bring to the company. This forward-looking approach positions you as a solution-provider from the very first line.
By avoiding these common errors and applying these five important tips to update your resume, you can significantly increase your chances of standing out and securing an interview.
Ready to take the next step? Northbridge is here to help you get your resume in front of the right people and into your dream job.
