Most employers are deluged with resumes from eager job seekers. With competition this fierce, the key to effective résumé writing means being certain that yours is free of the common errors that many employers complain that they see made over and over again. 

A strongly written resume can be the difference between landing an interview and landing in the “no” pile.  Here are 10 common mistakes made on resumes to avoid:  

1. No clear focus. Your resume should show a clear match between your skills and experience and the job’s requirements.  Why are you the best person for this particular position?
2. Use Consistent Formatting.   Make sure that you use the same font throughout the resume, everything is alligned and leave space between sections to that the reader’s eyes can flow freely without getting bogged down.
3. Poorly organized. Information on a resume should be listed in order of importance to the reader. Jobs should be listed with most recent job first and should include title, company name, dates employed and responsibilities.  Education should be emphasized if you are freshly out of school and have little work experience; otherwise, put it at the end. If your resume is difficult to read or key information is buried, it’s more likely to be cast aside.
4. Too much emphasis on old jobs. Resumes that go too far back into the job seeker’s work history can put that person at risk for possible age discrimination. The rule of thumb for someone at a senior level is to list about the last 15 years worth of professional experience.
5. Important skills buried. Don’t forget to bullet the important skills that make you a standout in your field. Emphasize how and what you will add worth to the company, not the reason you want the job. Employers are looking for someone to enhance the organization, not their own resume.
6. Drab looking. Try to stay away from the cookie-cutter résumé templates that employers see constantly. Show a little imagination when writing and designing your resume. But don’t overdo it. Overly artistic or tiny fonts are a no-no, since they’re hard to read and don’t scan or photocopy well.
7. Too personal.  Keep your personal and your professional life separate in order to be taken seriously.
8. One typo too many. Your resume is your one chance to make a first impression. A typo or misspelled word can lead an employer to believe that you would not be a careful, detail-oriented employee. Ask several people to proofread your resume to be sure that it is free of typos and grammatical errors.
9. Stretches the truth.  Be honest! But, don’t offer negative information.
10. Skips the extras. A common mistake is neglecting to mention any extra education, training, volunteer work, awards, or recognitions that might pertain to your particular job area or industry.