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What NOT to Include in Your Resume and Cover Letter

Your resume and cover letter are crucial aspects of your personal brand and they can help you make a great first impression. But too often, resumes and cover letters are tossed aside due to easily avoidable mistakes. And since hiring managers often have dozens of resumes to sift through, they don't usually have the time or resources to give a second-rate resume the benefit of the doubt. Avoid common errors and keep your resume and cover letter at the top of the list with these simple resume tips.

Creating a Resume and Cover Letter: Don'ts

Don't ramble. Keep your language tight, brief, and relevant. Do this by cutting empty phrases like "success-driven", "goal-oriented" and "team player." These mean nothing and they apply to everyone, so save space by taking them out.

Don't be sly. Never apply spin to simple facts like degrees, job titles, and dates of employment. Don't hide dates in tiny print, for example. This will only arouse suspicion, and these are easy facts to investigate.

Creating a Resume and Cover Letter: Do's

Quantify your accomplishments. Did you raise total sales at your last job? Did you reduce customer complaints? That's great! But add an overall percentage or a dollar figure to these facts and they'll be easier for reviewers to remember.

Be clear. Don't joke or use irony, and don't try too hard to express your personality through your resume and cover letter. Save that for the interview.

Get help. Most of us aren't professional writers, but a well-worded resume and cover letter can bring your application to the top of the stack in almost any field. Have a resume expert take a look at your materials so you canshowcase your unique background and make the most of every opportunity to shine.