Everyone looking for a job right now can tell you one thing for sure – the job market may seem like it’s in a shambles. Since AI technology has become available to everyone, the tech world has changed forever. Many women in tech have been laid off, and finding a job is harder than ever. Yet, a tech career is one of the most exciting and interesting opportunities out there.

Studying STEM is definitely challenging, and even more so for women. But, unfortunately, the challenges don’t end once you graduate. To score a decent job, you have to go through even more bias and prejudice during the screening and interview process. In this article, we will walk you through some of the most common mistakes recent graduates make in their CVs – so you’ll feel more confident, prepared and in control. 

Don’ts

First, let’s start with some common mistakes in CVs and resumes so you don’t repeat them.

Don’t Expect A Job To Find You

Being hunted is a dream of many, but it doesn’t happen that often to people who have just graduated. Sure, it does happen if you are active on LinkedIn and network a lot. But it’s not a good idea to just count on it.

Instead, allocate time for job search every day. If you’re still studying, using an essay writing service can help you outsource some of those tasks while you’re busy immersing yourself in the real world. However, it's crucial to approach services where you pay for essay writing with caution, ensuring they adhere to ethical guidelines and provide original content to avoid any academic integrity issues.

Don’t Put Irrelevant Information On Your Resume

Your photo, age and marital status have no business being on your resume. Putting your personal details on your resume is a thing of the past. It can open you up to even more prejudice, as well as lookism and ageism. Instead, focus on your work achievements, academic work and volunteering.

There’s no need to fill in the blank space. A short resume is natural for a recent graduate; there’s no need to mention any irrelevant job experience, either. 

Don’t Go Over One Page 

You could feel inclined to draft an extensive essay to occupy the empty space. Indeed, the idea of handing in a resume with merely two or three lines can be daunting. Nonetheless, it's important to remember that no recruiter will dedicate more than a minute to review a lengthy text block.

Instead, they will scan it to find keywords and make their decision in a matter of seconds. So, try to make their job easy – include key information like your degree, experience and other relevant projects, and skip the rest. You can tell them everything they need to know during the interview.

Don’t Put Too Much Effort Into Design

Minimalism is key. Don’t try to catch the recruiter’s attention by using colorful, bold fonts. Instead, focus on the structure of the resume - your achievements.

Being creative is an asset, but make sure your creativity doesn’t draw attention away from you. Don’t use more than two fonts; stick to a few complimentary colors, and your resume will be perfect! You could also use a template from Canva or any other online resource. And don’t forget to submit it in PDF.

Do’s

Now, let’s move on to some things you should be doing to score that job!

Do Think About ATS

ATS are applicant tracking systems. They search resumes instead of a human recruiter and find the most fitting ones. This is why, to score a job, you must first make sure you get noticed by the ATS.

For that, you have to use keywords. Most likely, the keyword the ATS is looking for will be mentioned in the job listing. So, take your time to read each one carefully and tinker with your resume accordingly. Mention the qualities and skills the employer is looking for in your resume. This will guarantee you will pass the first round of screening. 

This also means you must have a separate resume for each job listing. You could save a copy with the name of the company you applied to in the title. Or, if you don’t want to have thousands of copies of the same file saved on your computer, you can edit your resume every time before sending it out. 

Do Include Relevant Tools

Knowing how to operate tools is very valuable nowadays. And when it comes to your skills, there’s no such thing as irrelevant. Don’t be afraid to oversell yourself. Once you get the job, you can learn more about the one tool you mentioned that you are not proficient in, but in the meantime, if you are at least remotely familiar with something - mention it. 

Knowing multiple programming languages and operating different tools shows your desire to grow and learn. 

Do Proofread Your Resume

A misplaced coma might not seem like a big deal to you. But when a recruiter is choosing between two applicants with an identical set of skills and experience, they will choose the one who took the time to proofread their resume. 

So, proofreading is an essential step in creating your resume. When you think you are done, leave it alone for a day. Then, come back to it and read it through once again to ensure you’ve included everything you wanted to and that your message is clear.

It’s also beneficial to send it over to someone else to proofread. It can be stressful, so choose a person you trust. Have them look at your resume and share their thoughts. They might notice something you didn’t and share valuable advice.

Wrapping up

Job search is nerve-racking and scary, but you’ll deal with it just like you’ve dealt with every single challenge that has been thrown your way. Take it one step at a time, don’t rush yourself and try to stay calm. 

Research the companies you are applying to and care to read the job posting thoroughly. Adapt your resume to the posting, and you’ll be looking at interviews and job offers sooner than ever!