5 Critical Resume Mistakes for 2024

For seasoned fashion industry professionals, having a lot of experience under your belt does not necessarily mean that your job search will be quick and easy. This is particularly true if the hiring landscape has undergone significant changes since the last time you looked for work. Therefore, crafting an impressive and carefully crafted resume can increase your chances of landing your next role. However, senior professionals often make the following five resume-writing mistakes, which you need to avoid in 2024.

MISTAKE #1: Using an Objective Statement

When you first started writing your resume, you might have begun with a resume objective that outlines your career aspirations. However, if your resume still starts with an objective instead of a statement, it requires an immediate change. In modern resumes, summaries tend to be more favorable than objectives. Objectives only focus on what you want and your needs, which is not what employers want to see. Therefore, your opening statement should demonstrate your most relevant or impressive achievements, skills, and experiences that show what you can bring to the table and how you will add value to the business.

MISTAKE #2: Not using facts and figures (success metrics)

If you have been in business for a while, you will have a long list of achievements, but to demonstrate them, you need to back them up with facts and figures. Instead of saying you brought in revenue or led a team, provide specific details and statistics that highlight your value. For instance, give an exact figure of revenue you brought in or mention the size of the team you led.

MISTAKE #3: Bad formatting

Having a poorly formatted resume can negatively impact your application for various reasons. Firstly, it becomes challenging for recruiters to scan and find the necessary information. Secondly, formatting mistakes can make your resume less compatible with the ATS, which could cost you the job if your resume fails to make it past the ATS. To avoid this, pay attention to detail, use subheadings and bullet points, and maintain a simple and readable layout. Consistency in your design is also crucial.

MISTAKE #4: A really long resume

As a senior professional, you might feel the need to include every single detail of your career in your resume, resulting in several pages. However, this can be off-putting to recruiters, and they might not have the time to read through everything. Therefore, it’s best to keep your resume to two pages by including only the most engaging and relevant information. You can also use the job description to determine what information to include and what to leave out, making sure to tailor your application to the specific position and company.

MISTAKE #5: Not using keywords

Using keywords in your resume is vital to get past the ATS and narrow down the list of applicants. Scan through the job description, highlight the keywords that apply to you, and use them in your resume. Make sure to write catchy copy and use these keywords in the relevant sections. However, avoid throwing in keywords in random places to increase your chances.

In conclusion, updating your resume as a senior professional can feel like a tedious task, but with careful planning and using the right information, you can avoid making any unfortunate and costly mistakes.