5 Resume Mistakes You Should Know about as an IT Person

No spelling mistakes, a clear structure, looking friendly in the picture - everyone has heard enough of these tips for the perfect CV. But IT professionals in particular make mistakes in their CVs that are less well known.

Resume mistake #1: The platitude for the introduction

If possible, do not apply with the phrase "Dear Sir or Madam". This will only bring out your phlegmatic streak. Address the recruiter by name, even if you have to click through the company website or search professional networks such as Xing or LinkedIn. And if that doesn't help, call the company directly.

You should avoid initial phrases such as "I hereby apply" or "I am very interested". To the personnel officer, this sounds like a broken record. You should start the (famous) first sentence in such a way that it motivates the reader to read on.

Spare adjectives: "I am committed, reliable and a team player." Who isn't? Justify your statements with examples from your professional life: "There I learned to work together with colleagues from a wide variety of areas. I learned to appreciate teamwork especially when it came to the end of the project." That sounds quite different.

You don't sound quite so sure with this, "My skills would be a good addition to your company." Or with this conclusion: "I would be delighted to receive an invitation for a personal interview." Please avoid the subjunctive.

Resume mistake #2: The obvious corporate polygamy

Something like "polygamy" more or less worked in the sixties. Recruiters will be aware that you're applying to multiple companies. But you don't have to rub their noses in it. Therefore, you should tailor your resume to the company.

A standardized resume is one of the biggest mistakes an applicant can make. Every job has different requirements, and the range of tasks differs from company to company. Sometimes the focus is on skills, sometimes on personality. A tip: First create a resume that includes all your knowledge and all your skills, and then cross out the irrelevant for each application.

An administrator, for example, would do well to emphasize his or her communication skills. A front-end developer should have an overview of current trends. Enthusiasm for new things should be a basic requirement for all IT professionals. Mentioning this in a resume can never be a mistake.

Resume mistake #3: The continuing education jumble

Lifelong learning is more important than ever. Continuing education serves to sharpen one's own profile. They show that you have worked towards a vacant position and have followed a common thread. For this reason, further training should be chosen carefully.

The IT training business has become very lucrative, so there are many black sheep in this field. Before you decide on a training program, you should check whether it has relevant accreditations or recognitions. Reports from former graduates would also be helpful. In addition, good providers offer information days, with the possibility of a personal consultation. So only mention suitable and reputable continuing education courses in your resume.

Resume Mistake #4: The (lack of) creativity

As we all know, you can overdo it and underdo it here. Even a creative UX developer should not apply with a resume that the recruiter has to "puzzle together" before reading it. But a Microsoft Word resume would be just as wrong in that case. Just find the right balance.

But even as a non-designer, you should make some effort to stand out from the plethora of applications. Don't stick to all the old formal guidelines that have crept into the working world over time. Today, companies are more dependent on the (creative) thinking of their employees, for example in meetings.

In this context, even small things can have a positive impact. If you're applying for an online store, you can show off English skills with phrases like "fluent in written and spoken English" or with a five-star rating.

Resume Mistake #5: Perfection in person

You're a person, not a peacock. How about listing what you can't do but still want to learn? Admitting that there were situations you handled less well and explaining how you could have responded better? Humility is unfortunately a far too rare virtue in our times of self-promotion.