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Your Resume: Avoid These Mistakes

Your resume is often the first thing a prospective employer sees about you.  And a less-than-perfect one can hurt your chances for a job.  We can all use some advice to spruce up our resume.  GMA Workplace Contributor Tory Johnson says it pays to be vague at times and more specific in others.

A resume that's a little vague?  It's okay, if you're getting up there in years.

• Don't put "30 years experience" because that indicates you're an older worker.  Instead write "experienced" without the number of years.
• If you've been out of work for a while, for example since January 2009, eliminate months from your resume and use just the years.  So it looks like you've been without a job for only eight months, not 19 months.
• Don't put the year you graduated from college. That also gives away your age.
• Don't go too far back on your job history.  Leave off the '80's, and highlight the jobs you've held for the past 10 to 15 years.

While it helps to be vague in some places, it's important to be more specific in others.

• Instead of putting "responsible for the budget" under roles and duties, replace that with the size of budget and how you saved the company money.
• Are you a "people person"?  Good, but don't put it that way on your resume.  In a very few words, write so anyone can instantly understand what you do.

With more people looking for fewer jobs, you can't afford to make any mistakes.   And that goes for your resume as well.

"Resume Writing: Sample Template and Five Mistakes to Avoid"