Less is more. Overcrowded, unorganized, and hard-to-read resumes are likely to be placed at the bottom of the pile or moved into the trash bin on employers’ e-mail accounts. A well-formatted yet modest resume is more likely to get noticed than one with several fonts, overcrowding, confusing templates and inappropriate graphics. Your resume should be detailed yet concise while avoiding typical resume mistakes. Employers prefer easy-to-read resumes that clearly outline your skills and accomplishments.
Damaged Goods — It’s never OK to hand in a resume that has spills, rips, or looks like it’s been balled up in your front pocket. Always keep hard copies crisp and neat in a portfolio or folder.
Janell Hazelwood is associate managing editor at Black Enterprise, managing content across core areas of Money, Career, Small Business and Technology. She is also a featured blogger with My Two Cents, providing insights on branding, millennial career development, employment trends and leadership. She was previously a content producer and copy editor for Black Enterprise magazine, working across several editorial sections. The Hampton University graduate got her start in the newspaper industry, having worked for companies including The New York Times and Scripps Howard News Service. Her works and insights have appeared on The Huffington Post, MadameNoire, E!Online, Brazen Careerist, CBS News, and Arise TV.
