When you want to land a new truck driving position, your job search journey always begins with your resume. It’s your digital handshake, showing the hiring manager what you bring to the table and that you have what it takes to excel in the position they want to fill.  

In many cases, hiring managers receive a surprising number of qualified applicants. As a result, they have to separate the top contenders from the rest. This process often means that even a single resume mistake can cause your application to end up in the discard pile.  

Luckily, most resume missteps are avoidable. If you want the job, here are some common resume mistakes and how to prevent them.  

Spelling and Grammar Errors  

Spelling and grammar mistakes are the fastest way to end up in the discard pile. They suggest you lack attention-to-detail or aren’t overly enthusiastic about the opportunity.  

Make sure you review the document several times for errors. Use spelling and grammar checking tools as a starting point. Additionally, consider adding your resume into a text-to-speech program. When the program recites the content out loud, you may become aware of the mistakes you missed during your review. Finally, consider asking a trusted family member, friend, or colleague to take a look, as the second set of eyes can also catch errors you didn’t notice.  

Poor Formatting Choices  

The format of your resume impacts overall readability. If there’s not enough white space, the font is too small, or the page is overwhelmed with massive text blocks, your resume is hard to read. In many cases, a hiring manager isn’t going to struggle through it. If they can’t skim the document with ease, they’ll move on to the next application.  

Before you submit a resume, look at it from a readability perspective. Are you using section headers to identify what information is where? Are you using bullet points to separate achievements or skills without going overboard? Is the content concise and focused, avoiding rambling blocks of text? Is there a sufficient amount of white space on each page?  

If you answer “no” to any of those questions, rework your resume. Adjust it until there are good visual balance and improved readability.  

Overloading and Length Issues  

A resume can be too long or overloaded. Ideally, you want to limit yourself to one to two pages, depending on the amount of experience you bring to the table.  

Additionally, you want to be concise. While it may seem like listing every achievement and skill you have is a good idea, it actually isn’t. Your resume could end up looking cluttered, for one. For another, some of what you include may not be relevant to the job you’re trying to land, making the document seem unfocused.  

Only include accomplishments and skills that relate to that specific opportunity. When in doubt, review the job ad, especially the must-haves list. If an achievement or skill doesn’t align with the vacancy announcement requirements, consider leaving it off.  

Missing or Unprofessional Contact Information  

First and foremost, your contact details should be at the top of your resume, effectively front and center. Along with your first and last name, include an email address and a phone number.  

Additionally, make sure that the contact information you choose is suitably professional. While a funny or tongue-in-cheek email or voicemail message might be alright socially, the hiring manager probably won’t be amused.  

If you’re concerned about your email, create a new free one through Gmail or Outlook.com. When choosing your email address, look for a variant of your first and last name or initials. For example, if your name was John Doe, “john.doe” or “j_doe” could work.  

Your goal is to present yourself professionally. By following the tips above, you can increase the odds that your resume will make a positive impression.  

Get Back in The Driver’s Seat! 

If you’d like to learn more about the open driving jobs in California, the team at PTS® can help. Contact us today or browse our online job portal.