Considering the fact that approximately 5,000 resumes go across the average recruiter’s desk each year, it is important for you to avoid making critical mistakes that can prevent your resume from getting looked at. Here is a look at some of the most commonly sighted mistakes from top-level recruiters that you need to avoid.

Bragging About Poor Figures

When putting together a resume, you want to do everything you can to impress the recruiter. At the same time, there is a such thing as giving too much information. For example, bragging about managing a $250,000 budget will not be very impressive, as many businesses have budgets that are much larger. Rather than actually giving a number, it is better to say something along the lines of “managed company budget” and just leaving it at that. Similarly, most recruiters advice against bragging about a GPA of less than 3.7 on a 4 point scale.

Failing to Follow Proper Protocol

Although the Internet has made communication easier than it used to be, it doesn’t mean you should forget about following proper protocol. If you are sending a cover letter and a resume by email, for example, you should resist the temptation to start your email/cover letter with “Hi.” Rather, you should still open your letter with “Dear Mr. So-and-So” and ending it with “Sincerely” rather than “Thanks.”

Overuse of Certain Words

Although some recruiters use scanners to help with sorting through resumes, you should avoid the temptation to stuff your resume with keywords. You should always assume that a human is reading your resume and you should prepare it so it will be appealing to the reader.

Getting Overly Personal

Getting too personal on your resume can also be a major problem. After all, it is illegal for companies to ask job applicants about their age, race, marital status and other personal matters. Therefore, most companies prefer taking a “don’t ask, don’t tell” stance.

Making it Too Fancy

Some job applicants put more effort into making their resumes look fancy than they do with writing the proper content. The simple truth is that recruiters aren’t interested in receiving fancy resumes. Using ornate lettering or boxes on your resume will not help it stand out. Rather, this simply makes the resume difficult to read and will also make it difficult for scanners to read the resume if the recruiter does choose to use one.

Folding the Resume

It is also a mistake to fold your resume, as job recruiters prefer to receive flat resumes that are easy to photocopy. So, don’t fold the envelope to fit into a standard business envelope. Pay the extra postage for a large envelope so your resume can arrive to the recruiter flat and looking good.