A former Google recruiter outlined key resume mistakes that can hurt job prospects and suggested improvements, according to a CNBC report. Farah Sharghi, an HR and technical recruiter who has worked with companies including Google, TikTok, Uber, and The New York Times, frequently shares advice on job searches, interview preparation, and salary discussions. She identified the main error as candidates writing resumes for people who already know them. This issue often goes unnoticed by applicants but can obscure their achievements and reduce their impact. Sharghi advised clients to cover their name at the top and check if the resume could belong to anyone else. If so, the value of their work may not come across to decision-makers. She listed four common problems and fixes. First, add context before bullet points by briefly describing the organization and the candidate’s role, as generic statements like financial analysis often lack meaning to outsiders. Second, provide context for metrics, since numbers alone convey little without explaining what they measure. Third, avoid company-specific jargon, internal tool names, and acronyms by using plain language that outsiders can understand. Fourth, remove unverified claims about traits such as communication skills or being a team player, as these belong in interviews rather than resumes.
