There's plenty of great advice out there to help you create an amazing resume-plenty of "dos." But it's a good idea to keep in mind that there are some things that you should not do when writing your resume as well. So before you write another word, consider the following resume pitfalls.

Say No To...

1. Writing dense paragraphs: For many hiring managers, resumes are boring, repetitive documents, so it's your job to make reading yours as enjoyable as possible. One way is by using bullet points instead of writing dense paragraphs. This creates white space that makes reading easier.

2. Sidestepping action words: If you start your work history descriptions with "duties included" then you're not telling a hiring manager what you accomplished but simply what you were told to accomplish. You can fix this by adding action words like "initiated", "created", and "designed" to better describe the contributions you made at your previous employers.

3. Telling white lies: You may feel that exaggerating slightly in your work history could win you a job, but if a prospective employer checks with that previous employer to learn about your responsibilities, you could find yourself being turned down for the position.

4. Failing to add keywords: Most companies use some type of screening technology that looks for keywords related to the job to determine whether a candidate is worth seriously reviewing. To give yourself a chance, look up some related keywords and add them to your resume.

5. Creating generic resumes: It's very important that you tailor each resume for the company and position for which you're applying. You can do this by adding work history and accomplishments that show you've addressed the prospective company's needs in the past with prior employers.

6. Not advertising your LinkedIn profile: Your LinkedIn profile gives employers the opportunity to learn more about you than what you include in your resume. So be sure to add this link to your resume to get that boost you need.

7. Forgetting to spell check: When you're done with your resume, you need to check for spelling errors, grammar issues, and typos-over and over again. And don't rely on your word processing program to do the work for you since they are known for missing important information.

As a job seeker, it's always important to show how strong you are as a candidate. By avoiding the above no-nos, you have a better chance of being the one candidate the employer wants to bring into their fold.

For additional tips and advice on resumes and cover letters, follow @GreatResume or visit our blog.

Jessica M Holbrook, expert resume writer, is a nationally-recognized resume authority and former HR Manager who has achieved over a 99% success rate securing interviews with prestigious organizations through exclusive, personal branding strategies. The President/CEO of Great Resumes Fast, she and her team partner with professional- and executive-level candidates.

Every job application pool usually has at least a couple of candidates swimming in it who raise red flags for hiring managers. The resumes may show signs of unprofessionalism or are flat out irritating to read.

You can bet your bottom dollar that even if your red-flag resume makes it through the computer screening process and into the hands of a hiring manager, it won't take you much further. For this reason, you want to do everything you can-right from the start-to avoid producing this type of resume by doing the following:

1. Don't Overlook the Job Posting

Hiring managers create job postings for a reason-to let candidates know what it takes to qualify for a job. So say, for instance, you are a part of the hospitality industry and are applying for a job as a hotel manager. The qualifications include preparing budgets and forecasts, managing financial activities, recruiting qualified applicants, and overseeing the grounds.

If you make no mention in your resume of having these qualifications, the hiring manager will see the red flags and have no choice but to reconsider you as an option.

2. Don't Forget to Account for Gaps in History

Suppose you haven't worked a professional job in five years-with good reason, of course; you were at home raising your family. If you make no mention of this gap in time, the red flags are likely to go up, and managers will wonder what you were doing for five years. And if other candidates have no gaps, you may be discarded before you even have a chance to explain.

3. Don't Tell Them What They Don't Want to Know

Sometimes it's fun to be lighthearted during your job search. But under some circumstances, giving too much information about your life may simply be unprofessional.

For instance, if you create a section about hobbies, then mention that you love to pick your nose (yuck!), some could find this amusing, but most would likely be turned off by the offbeat humor. Of course, we know that you wouldn't really say that in a resume (I sure hope not), but some people might place equally unprofessional information on their resumes. Leave the personal information off.

4. Don't Leave Off the Obvious

Another major red flag for hiring managers who are looking through resumes is receiving some from candidates who leave off the obvious details-such as contact information. Even if you've already entered it on your application, you still want to include it in your resume.

5. Don't Forget to Edit

If you submit a resume with typos or misspelled words, you're asking for the red flags to go up. So before submitting your make-or-break document, be sure to edit, edit, and edit some more.

Red-flag resumes are only good for ensuring that you don't get the job you want. If you are taking your job search seriously, be sure to work hard on your resume so that it doesn't raise any red flags.

For additional tips and advice on resumes and cover letters, follow @GreatResume or visit our blog.

Jessica M Holbrook, expert resume writer, is a nationally-recognized resume authority and former HR Manager who has achieved over a 99% success rate securing interviews with prestigious organizations through exclusive, personal branding strategies. The President/CEO of Great Resumes Fast, she and her team partner with professional- and executive-level candidates.