The Most Common Resume Mistake We’re Seeing Right Now

Leaving Off Job Experience? That’s a Dealbreaker

At Synergy HR, we read a lot of resumes. Some make us smile. Some are hard to read. And lately, we’ve seen more than a few that are just plain confusing.

Here’s what’s happening. More people are turning in resumes with no companies listed. They might have a short paragraph at the top and a list of skills like “forklift operation” or “customer service,” but there’s no mention of where they worked or when.

That’s a big problem. If we don’t know where you got those skills, we can’t back you up to an employer. And employers won’t take the risk.

It’s like telling someone you can cook, but not saying if you’ve ever worked in a kitchen. You might be great, but they don’t know that from what you gave them.

Real Jobs Matter More Than Fancy Words

Your resume doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be honest. If you worked at a gas station, list it. If you spent a summer mowing lawns or stocking shelves at the grocery store, put it down. That shows you know how to work, show up, and learn.

Even a short job at a local shop tells an employer way more than a list of “skills” by themselves. Most bosses want to see that you’ve been part of a team before and had someone count on you to get the job done.

You can explain what you did on the job, sure. But without the name of the company, it just looks like guesswork.

If you’re not sure what your resume should look like, check out our tips on YouTube:
👉 Watch quick resume tips from Synergy HR

Need more help getting your job search in shape? Head to the Synergy HR blog for local advice that makes sense for folks right here in North Central Arkansas.

The Takeaway

If you want to get hired, don’t leave off your job history. A clean, simple list of where you’ve worked is better than a fancy resume with no names on it. The company wants to see that you’ve shown up for work before. That’s what makes them call you in for an interview.