5 Mistakes to Look for When Critiquing a Resume

Updated July 22, 20221.3k

Job recruiters will first get to know you through your resume. To make a good first impression, you need to perform a review and resume critique before sending it anywhere.

Resume Critique

Before you send your resume to any hiring manager, you need to review it thoroughly. Job seekers often spend extra time carefully crafting their resume before sending it in. Although it’s nice to be thorough, it’s important to let others review it and provide you a resume critique. More than just ensuring everything is spelled correctly, a resume review can help you perfect the document to raise your chances of getting a job. Before we check out the elements of a resume critique, we should first look at how to go about getting a critique in the first place.

How To Have Your Resume Critiqued

The best way to get your resume critiqued is by hiring a resume expert. A resume expert can provide you with ample constructive criticism to make your professional resume as polished as possible. You may think that hiring someone to review your resume is a bit much but it’s an important step in the job application process. You will get valuable feedback that could help you with your future resume writing.

6 Things To Look for When Critiquing a Resume

Besides hiring a resume expert, you should be capable of critiquing your own resume. There are six common mistakes people make when writing a resume. These mistakes can be spotted quickly if you know what to look for. Here are the six basic points to keep in mind when reviewing your own resume:

Grammar and spelling
Outdated information
Underwriting
Overwriting
Poor formatting and font
Underwhelming prose

Grammar and Spelling

Never underestimate how confusing the English language can be. Certain words aren’t always spelled the way we think they are and our memories can be spotty. Always run your resume through multiple spelling and grammar programs. Look up the meaning of the words to ensure you’re using them in the right context. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the line editing, review the resume section by section.

Proper grammar and spelling are the most important aspects of your resume that you need to get right. A single misspelled word or misplaced comma can be very distracting. The recruiter should be focused on the resume content, not the grammar or spelling. Correct spelling and punctuation make the entire document easier to read.

Outdated Information

Outdated information refers to any old address, emails, or phone numbers. Including your correct contact information is crucial. If the hiring managers are unable to contact you, you won’t get the job. Your email address should be the one you check the most. If the hiring managers choose to contact you through email, you need to be capable of replying promptly.

Not Providing Enough Information

Underwriting is a common mistake any resume writer can make. This is especially common with resumes for the service industry and first-time job-seekers. You may feel like there isn’t much to write about if you don’t have an extensive work history or academic background.

Too much white space on a resume is a sign of underwriting. If you don’t have a lot of certifications or work experience, you need to focus on your skills. Take a good look at the job description and use action verbs to sell yourself as the best person for the job.

Overwriting

Overwriting is common if you have a lot of work experience or certifications. No matter the formatting, a resume should never be longer than a single page. Include information that is relevant to the job application. If you have trouble trimming the document, you can always go over it with a resume expert or someone who works in the same field.

Poor Formatting and Font

Your resume should have a clean, professional format and font. The proper font and format will make the content easier to read. It will also indicate to the recruiters that you care about how your information is presented. The attention to detail will not go unnoticed. Some good resume fonts are Arial, Tahoma, Times New Roman, and Verdana.

Underwhelming Prose

While your resume shouldn’t be filled with purple prose, be mindful that you don’t make it too simple. Resume writers accidentally undersell themselves in an attempt to be formal. Using action verbs and impactful phrases helps you sound more qualified and makes you stand out in the recruiter’s mind.

Resume Critique Checklist: Key Elements To Include in Your Resume

A checklist will help you keep track of everything you need to include in your resume. The following are sections you need to include no matter what kind of job you’re thinking of applying to:

Contact information
Resume summary
Skills
Work experience
Education

This next checklist contains different methods you can use to spice up the resume and make it more engaging. Including these elements can amplify what you’ve already written in the skill, work experience, and education sections:

Action verbs
Bullet points
References
Achievements and awards
Extracurricular activity

FAQs: Resume Critique

How do I evaluate my resume?

Besides checklists, you can use other tools to evaluate your own resume. Use resume templates as a guideline. A solid resume sample can help you gain some perspective on your own resume for formatting, spacing and flow.

If you can find them, check out written testimonies from employees that have or had the job you want. If they describe the kind of role they have, you can use that to assess whether or not your resume seems tailored to the job title.

What is the most common mistake people make when writing a cover letter?

The most common mistake job seekers make when writing a cover letter is sounding too generic. The cover letter is where your passion for your craft and the industry should shine. By being overly formal or using simple prose, you risk sounding disingenuous. Having your cover letter professionally critiqued is the best way to go if you want to avoid stock phrases.

Can I have a friend critique my resume?

If you can’t have your resume reviewed by a professional, you can ask a friend, family member or colleague. Try to get the resume looked at by a friend that has a lot of success with getting hired by recruiters. If possible, choose a friend that works or has worked in the role you are applying to.

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About The Author

Cindi Cervone Carlson

Cindi Cervone Carlson is a Senior Vice President for Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. Cindi is responsible for developing, delivering, and implementing a dynamic, world-class organization dedicated to delivering outplacement consulting, training, support, and executive coaching. Cindi started her career at Challenger as a client who had lost her job. Over the past nine years, she has risen from an entry-level, part-time professional to Senior Vice President.