5 Mistakes People Make On Their Resume

Jobs are plentiful thanks to the Great Job Resignation of 2021. In particular, the digital marketing and advertising landscape looks great. LinkedIn says digital marketing is one of its top ten listed jobs.

So are planning to take the plunge and look for a new role? Make sure you optimize your resume for a digital marketing job! In this article, we’re going to help you revamp your resume to ensure it doesn’t contain any of these common mistakes.

  1. Lacking Skills. Both soft and hard skills are essential for a good resume, but be aware not to stuff your resume with only soft skills that are vague. If you’re trying to get a job in digital marketing or advertising, be sure to list any certifications you may have, as well as specific experience and skills you posses, such as Google Analytics and Google Ads, or programmatic and OTT.
  2. Not optimizing the resume to the job. Believe it or not, you shouldn’t be blasting the same resume to every employer. A powerful resume responds to a specific job description, and is not a catch-all. So look over what the employer is asking for and pick out keywords. Optimize your resume to match their most desired traits in an employee.
  3. Not focusing on accomplishments. You may have worked on spreadsheets and answered calls at your old gig. But framing it that way is a surefire way to get your resume tossed. Your resume should be focused on your accomplishments. Did you lead your team to save over $50,000 in revenue based on your new reporting process?  Or did you close a huge account last year and beat your goal? Make sure to list those specifics!
  4. Using a fancy design. Future digital marketers and advertisers may be trying too hard. Don’t use fancy colors, fonts, and extravagant resume templates to stick out. Application tracking software will not allow your resume through. Times New Roman may seem boring, but proper formatting will allow for optimal resume readability.
  5. Using a vague or meaningless objective statement. The objective statement was born to help focus your resume, but many hiring managers find a boring or vague statement obsolete and meaningless. In fact, it’s a better idea to let your resume speak for itself. If your resume is well-written, the objective statement becomes fluff, anyway.

Next Steps

Now is the time to get the job of your dreams in the digital marketing and advertising industry! Check out our job listings here, then optimize your resume for the job, and then send it over. Your dream job awaits!

Avatar photo

Kelly Herrick

Kelly Herrick is the founder of Searchlight, a digital recruitment firm specializing in media, advertising, and emerging technology. Originally from Texas, Kelly has made NY her home and lives with her husband, son, dog, and three cats in Westchester.