You picked your template, added your name, tweaked some boilerplate job descriptions, and started applying for sports jobs.
If this is how you wrote your resume, chances are you’re still on your job search. No matter where you are in your career, your resume needs to stand out and earn attention. Especially if you’re starting your rookie year in the industry, your resume doesn’t have to make you look like a rookie.
One of the most common tips is somehow frequently overlooked — typos. As the JobsInSports survey found, 20 percent of employers say the top deal breaker on an application are typos and incorrect grammar. And yet, there are still so many job seekers who submit resumes riddled with bad grammar.
Fortunately, we have a job search expert here at JobsInSports. And he is the champion of helping enthusiastic sports job seekers find a career they love.
He’s not just any old pug; he’s Champ the Pug.
Champ is a veteran in the sports industry who wants to take your rookie resume to champ status.
Let’s take a look at common resume mistakes and review some of Champ’s resume writing tips:
Objective Statements
Many employers groan when they read the dreaded objective statement. The intent here is to express what your objectives are in your career, but job seekers write dull, generic statements.
They’re outdated at this point. Most objective statements are far too broad and never really add any value to the resume. Not understanding the importance of ensuring every word is a necessity is a rookie mistake.
Champ’s Tip:
Out with the objective statements and in with the resume profile. In this section, instead of giving a bland goal, you’re briefly summarizing your skills and experiences and sharing your professional goals.
This must be specific to each of the sports jobs and employers you apply to.
Keywords
This may seem obvious, but in order to earn an interview and hopefully a job offer, employers need to actually read your resume.
If you’re not strategically optimizing your resume with the right words and phrases, it will be lost in the employer’s applicant tracking system (ATS).
Champ’s Tip:
If you want employers to catch your resume, help them find it. This requires some research on your part.
Step in the shoes of hiring professionals who are looking to fill sports jobs. Start by reviewing the job posting and sniffing out keywords they might be using to search for resumes in their ATS.
For example, let’s say you’re looking for sports jobs in sales. You found an account executive position that is perfect for you, and the listing calls for experience with Archtics CRM. The good news is you have experience with that particular software, so make sure you add that to your resume.
Match the words and phrases that appear on the job posting when it’s relevant. This way, you increase your chances of being reviewed when hiring professionals use keywords when they search and filter in the ATS.
Length
Everyone assumes that resumes shouldn’t be more than one page. This commonly used tip is actually arbitrary.
Champ’s Tip:
Here’s an easy-to-follow resume writing rule: be concise.
Rambling is another rookie mistake that will bore employers and make you forgettable. Remember, your resume isn’t a career history — it’s a marketing document showcasing your skills and experience to prove you’re right for the job.
After you write your resume, ask friends and family to read over it in the eyes of a hiring professional. Explain the sports jobs you’re applying for and ask if they think you need to rephrase or cut out unnecessary words or sections.
Accomplishments
When it comes to highlighting top successes, a rookie mistake is being too vague. It’s not enough to just say that you made an impact.
Champ’s Tip:
Show off your accomplishments by including specifics. Provide concrete evidence of the value you delivered in your previous or current role.
For example, if you boosted sales for your department, don’t just write, “Increased the number of sales while nurturing leads.” Use specific numbers to illustrate this — “Increased sales by 55% and exceeded our quarterly conversion goal by 27%.”
Your search for sports jobs won’t take forever if you follow in the paws of Champ. He’s helped several professionals hit their professional goals, and you’re next.
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