GABRIELLE WOODY: Hello.
My name is Gabrielle and I've spent
the last 10 years working in university recruiting.
Today we're going to go over
the top five resume mistakes I often see
from new college graduates and how you
can use Microsoft Word to avoid them.
So let's dive in.
Mistake number 1: Omitting key sections.
One common mistake is
omitting key sections on your resume.
When you don't have sections such as
a professional summary, education,
experience, key skills, and course work,
then you are not representing
the value you can bring to an employer.
You can prevent this mistake by starting with
a professionally designed resume in Microsoft Word.
Choose a template that aligns with your industry and
provides a clean, organized layout.
This ensures a polished appearance and ensures you are
highlighting the key sections a recruiter is looking for.
Mistake number 2: Lack of keywords.
Many companies use applicant tracking systems to scan
resumes and will search for
keywords to populate qualified resumes.
Carefully read through multiple job descriptions
for the positions you are interested in.
Highlight or make a list of
the key words and skills that frequently appear.
These are the terms that employers
consider essential for the role.
Compare the list of keywords and skills
from the job descriptions with your current resume.
Identify areas where you may be
lacking certain terms of skills that you
have and any relevant skills
that you have to your resume.
Mistake number 3: Overlooking formatting.
Formatting matters.
Don't let a cluttered resume distract
a recruiter from your accomplishments.
Microsoft Word's 'Styles' feature
helps maintain a clean and professional look.
Use headings, subheadings,
and bullet points consistently.
This improves readability and also
ensures your resume looks polished and well organized.
Mistake number 4:Ignoring action verbs.
Action verbs breathe life into your resume.
Microsoft Word's the 'Source' feature
can help you find powerful action verbs.
Just right click on a word,
select "Synonyms", and
choose an action packed alternative.
This simple tweak will make
your resume more dynamic and engaging.
Mistake number 5: Neglecting proof reading.
Our final mistake is neglecting proofreading.
Spelling and grammar errors can possibly hurt
your chances and show a lack of attention to detail.
Microsoft Word's built in spelling and
grammar check is your best friend.
After finishing your resume, run a final check.
Additionally, ask a friend or
a career advisor to review it.
Fresh eyes can catch mistakes you might have missed.
and there you have it, your guide to avoiding
the top five resume mistakes
often made by recent college graduates.
Remember, a polish and error-free resume
not only enhances visibility to a recruiter,
but it also assists
the applicant tracking system with
parsing your resume accurately.