How your resume can cost you a job

Now that we've covered how to avoid common job hunting mistakes, we're going to narrow that down even further to discussing common resume mistakes.

This article on avoiding resume mistakes by Katharine Hansen, creative director and associate publisher of Quintessential Careers, goes in-depth on these 10 mistakes:

1. Resume lacks focus.
2. Resume is duties-driven instead of accomplishments-driven.
3. Resume items are listed in an order that doesn't consider the reader's interest.
4. Resume exposes the job-seeker to age discrimination by emphasizing older jobs in the job-seeker's job history.
5. Resume buries important job-relevant skills at the bottom.
6. Resume is not bulleted.
7. Resume uses a cookie-cutter design based on an overused resume template.
8. Resume lacks keywords.
9. References are listed directly on your resume.
10. Resume's appearance becomes skewed when sent as an email attachment and/or resume is not available in other electronic formats.

Building off of Hansen's points, here's what we consider the other easy ways for your resume to cost you a job: not tailoring your resume to the position you're applying for and a poor resume layout.

Beyond your resume, remember to manage your online presence so you can make a great first impression.

Here's Mike Perry, president of Szarka Financial, for more on the top 5 resume mistakes he sees during the hiring process for an open position in his company.