Avoiding Common Resume/CV Problems

Anyone who has heard me speak about graduate school applications knows that I put a lot of emphasis on creating a fantastic resume/CV.  The resume provides the first impression that the applicant will make on the admissions committee (or human resources personnel when applying for a job).   Thus the writer must seek to maximize the impact the resume will have on the reviewer.  With this in mind, here is a list of common mistakes that graduate school (and job) applicants should keep in mind when crafting their resumes:

Crowded Information - The reviewer might only spend 30 seconds reading your resume the first time.  And the first time might be the last time.  If the text is crowded and hard to read the reviewer might miss critical information.  If you are struggling to fit your resume into one page - it's time to find an editor!

Unappealing Formatting - You never get a second chance to make a first impression.  Unappealing, inconsistent or sloppy formatting makes a strong statement about your work quality and professionalism.  A sloppy resume infers that you would produce sloppy deliverables in the future.

A Simple List of Responsibilities - Perhaps the most common problem with resumes is that they often only contain a simple list of responsibilities.  It is necessary to briefly list your responsibilities, but it is more critical to point out what you have achieved.  The reviewer will want to understand not only what you were responsible for, but most importantly what you achieved when handling those tasks.

No Impact - Graduate school programs and employers are looking for individuals that have made a positive impact on the organizations they were part of.  If you made an impact in the past, you are likely to make an impact in the future.  Most resumes give no indication of the impact the person had during their experiences.  Find a way to show that you made a difference at your job or in other involvement.

Failure to Make Connections to the School/Employer - Most people use a "one size fits all" resume.  However, to achieve the best results the resume should be tailored to fit the target.  Analyze the graduate school program or employer and get a sense of the skills and types of experiences they value.  Then analyze your background and put extra emphasis on the skills and experiences that are a good match.  By doing this you will market yourself to the school/employer in the best possible way.

We hope this list of resume tips are helpful!  There are many more subtleties to creating an effective resume.  If you would like to ask resume-related questions or understand our resume editing services, feel free to contact us at david@transcendadmissions.com.