It’s very easy to overlook some simple mistakes that many coaches make on their resume. Here are some of the most common mistakes we see when doing resume reviews that you should try to avoid.
Resumes that are too long. I once did a resume review on an 8 page resume. Insert mindblown emoji here!! Your resume should not be longer than 2 pages in most cases, no matter how much experience you have. You will lose the reader’s attention if it is longer than 2 pages. If you have a lot of experience, just list employer/position/dates for any job you held more than 15 years ago.
Remove objective statement or professional summary. These are not necessary. Not only do they take up valuable resume space (see above) but the information is typically generic and can instead be included in your cover letter.
Boring layouts. If you are still using Microsoft Word to build your resume, then it is most likely dull and boring. A word processing program also doesn’t allow you much flexibility to move things around on the page. Using PowerPoint or a program like Canva (www.canva.com) will allow you to create a more dynamic layout and also permit you to use the entire page to fit more info.
Lack of professional skills/target skills section. Use this instead of the objective statement or professional summary. List unique skills that make you stand out from other candidates. Also, list target skills specific to the job you are applying for.
Eliminate buzzwords. Most people list skills like the following in their professional summary: hard-working, motivated, detail-oriented, people person…..I wrote another article here with a whole list of these types of buzzwords. How exactly do any of these characteristics make you stand out from other coaching candidates???
Leaving off your references. Personally I like to see who you know. If I know someone on your list, I will text or email them immediately. If you don’t have a lot of experience and you have good references, I will contact them to learn what makes you stand out in their mind.
Not telling your story. Too many people just list general duties and responsibilities for each of the positions they held. That doesn’t make you stand out. Focus on accomplishments, achievements, improvements…..how did you bring value to the program/organization?
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