How do you get the attention you deserve?
Your resume is dead, and you should not be applying for jobs. Ideally, no recruiter or hiring manager is looking to hire you because you desperately need the job to survive. However, each company or organization is simply looking for someone who shares its common interest.
One may ask, what is the common interest here? First, ask yourself why you need the job. You have a daily need to fulfil through being employed.
Similarly, your prospective company needs to stay in business or risk going out of service. The organization has continuous problems that need to be solved by you.
In this Part 2, we shall discuss five (5) additional mistakes besides what we have elucidated in Part 1.
Below are the first five common mistakes you should avoid at all costs.
Failure to Indicate Measurable Achievements in your CV
Why does it matter?
After reviewing over 50 resumes as of September 4, 2025, I have identified common patterns and mistakes that many people make.
It’s disheartening to see that most people have had good experiences; however, they have failed to represent those experiences effectively.
I do not blame anyone because I used to make similar mistakes, and that cost me a lot of wait time.
I used to hope things would “magically” change, but in reality, you do not want to bet your success on luck.
Remember, everyone is a salesperson. Your curriculum vitae (CV) or resume is what a recruiter or hiring manager sees first before even thinking of reaching out to you.
So, why don’t you spend the necessary time to craft it well?
Your previous work should be written with measurable outcomes and not just generic or passive sentences.
For instance, saying “responsible for” sounds passive. Employers want proof of impact.
A 2019 LinkedIn study found that candidates who included metrics were 40% more likely to receive interviews. Numbers turn vague claims into evidence.
How to avoid this mistake
Considering that you are an electrical engineer with a power plant.
For such a role, ask yourself: “What difference did I make serving in this position? Can I quantify it?”
Some key considerations to think about include cost savings, time reductions, team growth, revenue increases, and efficiency improvements.
It is preferable to write in bullet points and try to be as brief as possible? Sometimes, we are tempted to include a lot in one bullet point, but that can be counterproductive.
How should you correct it
You can easily avoid these mistakes. If you have less experience or are still a student, you have the opportunity to refine your approach to work.
Could you start taking notes on what you do and the achievements that come with it?
Once you have enough work to show, replace all weak verbs with impactful and actionable voices.
For example, let’s examine this experience: “Responsible for managing electrical contractors and vendors to optimize cost and quality.”
You can rewrite this same experience as
- “Managed three (3) electrical contractors and two (2) switchgear vendors for a 50 MW solar project, reducing cost by $25,000.“
Someone may say they don’t have any “technical” work to show; however, even soft skills can be quantified as well. For instance, if you have trained others, feel free to mention that. For example;
- “Trained fifteen (15) new hires, bringing them up to speed within a month of hire, which increased the department’s quarterly profit by 35%.”
- “Led weekly meetings with 25 participants, prioritizing tasks with due dates that led to completing 90% of tasks one week ahead of schedule.”
Moreover:
Instead of writing “Responsible for energy audits.”
- “Conducted energy audits across 15 facilities in five States, identifying $120k in potential annual savings.”
Numbers instantly make you look results-driven.
By now, you can appreciate the differences in how we should communicate our experiences to demonstrate measurable outcomes.
Using an Unprofessional Email Address in your Resume
Why does it matter?
We do not have control over whether we will receive an invitation to a job interview. However, we do have control over how we set up an email to be used on our resumes.
Five years ago, I sent my resume to a good mentor for review and to share his insights. The first comment was to update the email address listed on my resume. At the time, I never understood it, but it made a lot of sense to me after I made the change.
Your email address could sound intimidating or bragging, or could be interpreted as showing “arrogance” to those who may be reviewing it. Realistically, it is unfair to be judged by how your email looks, but that is out of your control.
Since first impressions count a lot in interview processes, you should make an effort to make your resume nearly perfect.
For instance, a quirky email like partyanimal1990@ screams unprofessional. In a Harris Poll for CareerBuilder (2021), 35% of employers cited unprofessional email addresses as a reason to reject candidates. It’s small, but it signals maturity.
Other poor email addresses to avoid may look like niceguychicago@gmail.com or hotgirlintown@hotmail.com, or similar addresses.
It may sound cool to you when you are young in junior or senior high school, but it’s a big turn-off when you are turning into a professional.
Now, let’s look at how to save yourself from such mistakes.
How to avoid this mistake
You can easily avoid this common mistake by using a simple, yet professional, email address: firstname.lastname@email.com. If your name is familiar and taken by someone else, consider adding a middle initial or a number (but avoid using random nicknames).
You can use free services like Gmail or Outlook, whichever one you prefer, but stick to the basics.
How should you correct it
The first thing that comes to mind when creating an email is to identify its purpose. What will you typically use the address for?
Create a new, clean email address specifically for job hunting. Redirect all job applications to this location to maintain organized communications.
Update your resume or CV, LinkedIn, and job boards with the new email. It’s a quick fix that makes a surprisingly big difference.
Poor Formatting of your CV
Why does it matter?
After reviewing several resumes, I was surprised to see how many people underestimate the importance of formatting.
Formatting issues such as inconsistent fonts, messy alignment, or cramped margins make your CV difficult to read and appear unpolished. It only informs the recruiter or hiring manager that you may be disorganized and lack attention to little details.
Since most recruiters skim through resumes in under 10 seconds, poor formatting can cost you opportunities. If you fail to pass this critical first stage, your resume will never reach the hiring manager, and you will continue to struggle for interviews.
How to avoid this mistake
Firstly, get a clean, professional layout or use a template. Stick to one or two fonts (sans-serif like Calibri or Arial are safe).
Use consistent font sizes for headings vs. body text. White space is your friend: margins of at least 0.5–1 inch keep things breathable.
How should you correct it
Consider performing a self-review first. Run your CV through a readability test: print it, put it on a desk, and glance at it for 5 seconds. Do you like what you have now?
If you don’t have a printer at home to complete this exercise, you can preview it or save it as a PDF.
Can you spot your most essential skills? If not, adjust the layout. Consider using modern CV templates from Canva, Novoresume, or even MS Word’s built-in designs. Professional formatting shows attention to detail.
You may also need a reviewer to help you if that makes things easier for you.
Including Photos in your Resume
Why does it matter?
Adding profile photos to resumes is a common practice among many people in various countries.
In the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and many other countries, including a photo, opens the door to unconscious bias or even legal issues around discrimination.
Unless you’re in a country like Germany or applying in industries like modeling or acting, photos are unnecessary and risky.
Generally, avoid including it unless the role specifically requests that you include your picture in your CV.
How to avoid this mistake
First and foremost, do your research on the norms in your target country. In the United States, leave the photo out. Instead, let your accomplishments and skills speak for themselves.
In countries where it’s expected (e.g., some EU nations), use a professional headshot with a neutral background, business attire, and a natural smile.
How should you correct it
Every space in your resume should be well used or managed for a purpose that only helps you.
If you’ve included a photo and it’s not the norm, remove it. Replace that space with more valuable information, such as certifications, skills, or key achievements.
If applying internationally, keep two versions of your CV (with and without a photo), depending on local expectations.
Including Personal Details in your Resume
Why does it matter?
Even though your resume is supposed to speak about you, in all fairness, however, including all details may harm you. It is crucial to know what to add and what not to add. Adding personal data like age, marital status, religion, or social security number can expose you to bias or even identity theft.
In many countries (like the United States and the United Kingdom), it’s actually discouraged to prevent discrimination. Employers want to know your skills, not your personal life.
Upon reviewing several resumes of engineering students and professionals, I have noticed that many individuals include their birth date, marital status, tribal language, and religion.
I was a victim of some of these mistakes too and so, you are not alone. I saw significant progress after I made all the necessary improvements in my CV.
How to avoid this mistake
You only know as much as you allow yourself to learn. The first important thing is to find out CV norms for your target country.
Stick to essentials: name, phone number, professional email, LinkedIn, and (if relevant) location. Skip details about family, nationality, or hobbies unless the hobby directly supports your career (e.g., “IEEE student member or relevant volunteering activities such as study committees, working groups, and leadership roles”).
How should you correct it
Take adequate time to review your resume and remove unnecessary personal info as explained in the section above.
Consider replacing that space with something useful, such as a certification, technical skill, or portfolio link.
A clean, professional profile section is far stronger than listing “Married with three children,” which has nothing to do with the job you are applying for.
Summary
In this post, five common mistakes have been discussed.
Focus on resolving these common issues that only deny you the job you have been looking for all year round.
- Failure to Indicate Measurable Achievements in your CV
- Using an Unprofessional Email Address in your Resume
- Poor Formatting of your CV
- Including Photos in your Resume
- Including Personal Details in your Resume
Furthermore, a follow-up post will cover part 3 of the momentous mistakes to avoid when seeking good-paying jobs. Feel free to check part 1 of the series of these posts.
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Which of these mistakes stood out to you? Let me know in the comments.
6 Responses
Really do appreciate you sir
It’s a great pleasure.
Best wishes, Peter.
Thank you very much sir, this is very important. As a student infact I must take this very serious because though I’m currently in level 300, doesn’t mean that I need to wait till I graduate before I begin to check my mistakes. Once again thank you very much sir
Evans, it’s a great pleasure to hear from you. You’re right, please do not wait to graduate. Take a few steps to get your CV updated and fill in gaps where needed.
All the best.
Very helpful!
As a student about to graduate, is it necessary to add your relevant courses and student leadership positions when seeking for an entry level electrical engineering role?
Thank you.
Hi Ismael,
Thanks for your comment.
Regarding your question, if you lack experience, such as internships during your school years, but are graduating soon, you may include relevant courses that apply to the position you are applying for.
For instance, if you are applying for an entry-level power engineer role, you can list about 3 to 5 courses that are useful to the role.
Best wishes