by Daniel J. Gansle

Created on: June 09, 2009

In the rush for gainful employment, job seekers are not immune from mistakes made on a resume. Between writing the resume and cover letter, posting the resume on online job search engines, and harnessing the power of social media to promote one's job skills, it's not difficult for a mistake or two to slip between the cracks.

Unfortunately, a single mistake on a resume can rank the applicant poorly in the eyes of the employer. Two or more mistakes can send the candidate's

job application in the garbage can. So what can job seekers do to avoid mistakes when presenting the resume to an interested company? First, we need to take a look at the definition of a resume.

What Is a Resume, and How Does it Help the Job Seeker?

A resume is a marketing tool used to promote a candidate's skills to interested employers. Rather than simply a flat listing of work experience, the resume should proactively sell the candidate to companies with open positions. Thus, it is highly important that the job seeker write the resume according to proper resume type, structure, and formatting.

Writing to the Correct Resume Type

Merely listing education, skills, work experience, and a one-sentence objective on a sheet of paper is not sufficient to qualify for a successful job search strategy. The job seeker must consider several types of resumes depending on the applicant's employment history. For example, an applicant who has lengthy gaps in employment (or is changing careers) may wish to consider writing a functional resume; while the candidate who has a consecutive, uninterrupted work history may opt for a traditional reverse chronological resume.

Avoiding Grammar, Spelling, and Punctuation Errors

The number one error employers look for is spelling or grammar oversights on both the resume and cover letter. Job seekers should always run the word processor's spellchecker to ensure spelling accuracy. Proper grammar and punctuation is important as well; mistakes such as run-on sentences, misplaced apostrophes, and improper use of capitalization can make the candidate appear uneducated and unqualified.

Should a Job Seeker Inflate the Resume to Get the Job?

In today's difficult job market, inflating or even lying on the resume is tempting to get a leg up on the competition. But if the employer suspects the candidate has not been honest about job skills and experience, it is a surefire guarantee the job application will be immediately discarded. Job seekers should always highlight relevant experience but never lie just to land the job.

Using Sample Resumes

Numerous sites on the web provide free resume and cover letter samples. These are extremely handy and can be quite effective in learning proper structure, and formatting for various resume types. About.com offers numerous resume examples. Workbloom is another site that offers a range of resume samples to view and work from.

When presenting your resume to an interested employer, don't let a few mistakes get between you and the job you're applying for. By writing to the correct resume type; avoiding grammar, spelling and punctuation errors; not inflating the resume; and using sample resumes, you'll find your chances for finding gainful employment will improve.

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