Your resume is like a mirror that a potential employer uses to know more about you.
The information on your resume will determine whether or not you are a perfect fit for the job.
A bad resume fails to professionally highlight your skills, education, and work history.
The recruiter knows nothing about you before submitting your application alongside your resume.
They can gather facts about your education, work history, interests, and skills with your resume.
But writing a perfect resume that can command attention is an uphill climb for many freelancers like yourself. Little wonder why you make mistakes in your resume, turning it into a bad resume instead.
These mistakes aren’t just avoidable grammatical errors but red flags that tell the recruiter you are the wrong applicant for the job.
Does your resume look like a bad resume? Relax; the tips in this post will help you revamp your it like a pro.
What is a Bad Resume?
What makes a bad resume?
A bad resume fails to professionally highlight your skills, education, and work history.
If your resume has mistakes you could have avoided if you paid attention to detail, it may be rejected without delay.
Trust me, hiring managers to know their craft, and they can smell bad resume miles away. Ideally, you are supposed to tailor your resume to every job you apply for; that way, your achievements and work history will align with the requirements on the job posting.
How Do I Know If My Resume is Bad (Good Vs. Bad Resume)?
Most recruiters will never tell you their reasons for rejecting your application. You only read “rejection emails” without apparent reasons why you weren’t accepted. That could be frustrating. There are many reasons for this. But how do you know if your resume is the reason?
Ideally, rejections are part of the meal you will be served in your freelance writing business. So at a point, you may have to get used to it. But when it becomes a regular occurrence, it’s time to critically examine your resume and see if it’s turning recruiters away.
Bad Resume Examples to Avoid
The best way to avoid a mistake is to know the error beforehand.
The same goes for your resume.
Here are some common bad resume mistakes writers make.
You should avoid these actual bad resume examples if you want your resume to always stand out in any application you send.
1. Poor Format
Few things beat a well-formatted resume.
First, there is always plenty of white space around the content. Resumes that cluster information in one section send a sign to the recruiter that you aren’t worth hiring.
2. Unprofessional Email Address
Your email address could be turning recruiters off. Avoid using personal details for your email.
Names such as [email protected] may look unprofessional.
Also, if possible, avoid using free email services. When communicating with clients or applying for jobs online, it’s always ideal to be professional.
As such, a professional email address such as [email protected] is better.
3. Poor Spelling and Grammar
Grammar mistakes may be overlooked, but they could make your resume look more like a text block than a document that communicates your expertise. These mistakes include:
- Misspellings
- Too much capitalization or the absence of it
- Inaccurate use of commas
- Too many abbreviations
- Including too many jobs
Does your resume show that you frequently jump from one job to another?
This might be a problem for recruiters.
Maybe you have too many clients you worked for within a year.
You don’t have to clutter your resume with work accomplishments and history. Consider including only long term freelance projects.
4. Lying About a Resume Gap
Why are resume gaps bad?
Well, they aren’t but lying about resume gaps is bad.
According to Monster,
“Don’t change the dates of employment so it looks like you’re still working at the company or shift them so it seems like you have a shorter gap. Employers can verify your career history, and you could get fired for lying on your resume. Honesty is always the best policy.”
Explain to the recruiter why there is gap if you were laid off because of budget cuts and always keep what you say about the relationship with your previous emoployer positive and professional.
How to Fix a Bad Resume
As a freelance writer, you will always have competition. If you have a bad resume, you don’t have to panic or withdraw from sending job applications. Here are simple ways to fix your resume
Be Creative
There is a new development in the freelance world. Virtual is fast becoming the norm.
So, if you do more remote work, you need to be creative by showing more personality in your resume.
There is no better way to flaunt your skills than in your resume.
Highlight similar businesses you have worked in the same industry.
Use One Formatting Structure
Avoid things like graphics or columns in your resume. Also, avoid clustering information in just one section of your resume. Spread value as much as you can. Don’t use fonts that are difficult to read.
Discuss your work accomplishments with as much passion as your educational background. There should be enough space in your document.
Ideally, it would help if you considered using a two-page document instead of one.
Include the Right Skills
Instead of including skills that you should have, such as blogging, focus on skills that make you stand out from the crowd.
Hiring managers are interested in knowing what you plan to “bring to the table” when hired.
For example, will you help them increase traffic on their blog? Or boost audience engagement?
Don’t Forget to Include Client Reviews
Most times, recruiters don’t mind reading an outside perspective. So, including a bunch of client testimonies won’t hurt.
In addition, reading about clients’ testimonies will make them know you will be a great addition to the team.
Relevant Experience
You will get better traction if you can connect the dots with your work experience.
For example, if you previously worked as an SEO specialist and want to pursue an editor position requiring minimal SEO knowledge, you could highlight your SEO skills. This will quickly make a connection.
Do Things Right
Your resume is not your cover letter. So don’t get it wrong. If there are specific issues you should address in your application, you can do so in your introductory email or cover letter. A resume is not for explanations.
Revamp Your Resume Summary
Your resume summary should never be dull. Ensure you pack it up with a powerful punch. This is usually the first thing recruiters see, depending on your resume format.
Avoid generic information and include action verbs.
Be specific! Explain why you do what you do. It should be compelling enough to show the hiring manager how you plan to put your skills to work for them.
Final Thoughts on Having a Bad Resume
Do you think you have a bad resume? The suggestions in this post could take your resume from inadequate to outstanding in no time.
If you enjoyed reading this guide, let me know in the comment section.
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