Resume Mistakes Project Management Professionals Often Make

You are a PMP professional with an outstanding track record in project management. You are passionate about executive leadership and are qualified for a project manager job opening. So what is stopping you from getting hired? Hang on… Is your resume not working for you?

Your resume is the first thing that stands out for you among many other resumes for a position. It is better to give some time to craft a well-organized and powerful resume and avoid common mistakes. In this article, we have listed the most common resume mistakes in PMP resumes that prevent you from moving on to the next round, along with their solutions.

To learn about Project Management and its related skills, read our blog – What is Project Management?

Common PMP Resume Mistakes & How To Fix Them

Your resume is an important document for an employer to decide you are fit for the role. It is easy to make mistakes on your resume. But it is quite difficult to fix the damage once a hiring manager receives it as it can hurt your chances of getting hired. Recruiters simply toss the applications that don’t meet what they’re looking for.

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Here are the most common resume mistakes along with solutions to avoid them.

Not Adding a Resume Summary

• Not adding a professional profile
• Lengthy profile summary
• Vague resume objective statements

Solution

Nowadays, many employers prefer a professional profile over career objectives to learn more about the applicant’s background. Include a brief professional profile that gives an overview of your qualifications for the job. A resume profile is a brief three to four-sentence resume introduction that is placed at the top of it. It provides a concise summary of your background, professional skills, and accomplishments.

If you have limited work experience, you can add your career objectives to your resume. But relate how achieving your career objectives can benefit the company you are interested in working for.

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Exaggeration

• Vague or overgeneralized qualifications
• Inconsistencies in dates of employment and job titles
• Overstating revenue raised

Solution

Avoid showing your overexcitement to be hired for the role by exaggerating or lying in your resume. Highlight your project management qualifications, featuring relevant management experience and accomplishments. Make sure that you don’t exaggerate the truth. Be real about what skills and knowledge you have as well as the skills you are ready to learn.

For example, you worked on a project in your past role that helped your company make money. While describing your accomplishment in terms of sales figures and timelines, keep the numbers honest and accurate.

Also Read: Project Management: A Work of Art and Science Making Things Possible  

Ignoring Important Information

• Not mentioning relevant qualifications or certifications
• Forgetting writing about performance appreciations

Solution

Recruiters prefer quantitative and qualitative information. So mentioning your education, credentials, and certifications is a must! Also, it will be a smart move if you include applicable industry keywords. Do not let missed information turn into missed opportunity!

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Extra Customization & Failing Format

• Including too many paragraphs, numbers, and acronyms in the resume
• Using different fonts, separation lines, and shapes all over your resume
• Using decorative boxes
• Color-coordinating text to make it look stand out

Solution

Use a clean, simple format. Do not overwhelm the resume page with shapes and colors. Avoid adding multiple sheets to your resume. Be clear and concise so that employer can focus on what is actually required.

Careless Mistakes

• Grammatical errors
• Not proofreading your resume

Solution

Don’t forget to double-check your resume for spelling and grammar mistakes. Over-usage of capital letters and hyperlinked texts can make it look worse. Proofread your resume from start to finish as it can be an important factor in deciding if your application will be accepted and or rejected. A resume filled with such errors can put off the recruiter and turn down your chance to showcase your skills.

Must Read: Top Project Management Tools for Any Task

Adding Unrelated Work Experience

• Including every single job in your resume, relevant or irrelevant
• Elaborating daily tasks and making your resume look like a book

Solution

Think like a smart recruiter who uses Applicant Tracking Systems for filtering resumes by keyword spotting. List work experience and skills that are specifically related to the job role you have applied to. Summarize information and complex data.

Use bullet points to boost up your chances to look more relevant to the posted job. If your past work experience seems unrelated, you can just list the skills and achievements that can be relevant to the job. For unrelated past roles, you can consider avoiding mentioning every responsibility you had.

Also Read: Learn 6 In-Demand Project Management Skills [Courses, Certifications, and Books]

Using the Same Resume For Different Job Openings

• Sending the same resume to multiple job applications

Solution

Even if different companies operate in the same industry, you will need to tweak your resume for each particular job. This is because the needs of the companies might differ and may require different skills or knowledge.

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Not Adding References

• Not mentioning any references
• Listing too many references

Solution

Most recruiters look for two to three professional references in resumes. You can include your past colleagues, supervisors, clients, or any other connections with whom you have interacted professionally, who can provide positive feedback about your work.

Also Read: Top Project Management Interview Questions and Answers

Conclusion

Don’t let your resume become a reason for your rejection in the first place. Take some time to think about your strengths, weaknesses, and list the unique skills you possess that might set you apart. Listing all the highlights smartly and avoiding these common mistakes can help you stand out from the crowd. This will turn your resume into a document that gets noticed by potential employers.

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