Your resume is your first impression when searching for a job, and your space and time are limited. An initial look by recruiters and hiring managers might only be a handful of seconds, so you need to take advantage of that prime real estate. In the modern job search, there are common eye sores you can leave off of your resume without a second thought.
It should be obvious to check for grammatical errors and to take a professional tone. You’ll find it difficult to make a good impression if you’ve got [email protected] at the top. Instead, we’ll focus on some topical pitfalls you should replace ASAP.
An objective statement
Back in the day, an objective statement was a common resume staple that allowed you to introduce yourself, highlight a few skills, and mention what you’re seeking in your next role. This methodology has become outdated for a few reasons. First, cover letters better fill the role of introducing yourself and preemptively answering any questions about your candidacy. Second, recruiters must filter through dozens or even hundreds of applications, meaning a generic statement isn’t going to catch the eye. Finally, an objective statement is focused on what you’re looking for instead of highlighting why you’re the best option for the role.
Instead, use that space for a professional summary. What’s the main difference? A professional summary quickly allows you to show how you can solve an organization’s problems and why your history and accomplishments make you the best candidate for the role. TopResume says to think of it as your personal elevator pitch or preemptively answering “Tell me about yourself?”
Mentioning references
Your references can make or break your candidacy in the final rounds of interviews. They can add credibility to what you’ve told interviewers and can add more perspective on the value you bring to an organization. However, your references will only be contacted if you’re viewed as a serious candidate for the role. Mentioning references in your resume is considered outdated and presumptuous.
There’s no need to add “references available upon request” to your resume; it’s assumed. Instead, have a separate document with your references’ information neatly organized so that, if you are asked, you’ve got a nice, clean page ready to go.
“Never include your references in your resume. Dedicate a single page for references that can be presented if someone requests it.” –Kelly Smith, recruiter
Unnecessary personal information
Your personality matters in an interview. Managers want a good cultural fit and to feel like you’re someone they’d enjoy working with. With two equally qualified candidates, the interpersonal edge can get you the job. But that’s at the interview stage. On your resume, too much personal info can bog down your document and overshadow your accomplishments.
Your physical address or addresses of previous employers won’t be used in the process and are just cluttering your resume. Your GPA doesn’t mean much after school or perhaps your very first job. Hobbies and interests can help you make a connection down the road, but unless they directly tie into the role, they’re overcrowding your limited space. Indeed says to leave off your age and a headshot as well, as these can lead to unconscious bias or discrimination and hurt your candidacy.
“You will not be receiving any communication at your physical address, and while you can include your city if you would like, that is not necessary either, especially if the position is going to be entirely or mostly remote. Just make sure you have your phone number and a professional (one with your name—not something you created in high school) email address, and you are good to go.” –Steven Weidinger, Washington Post
Irrelevant work history
It can be tempting to treat your resume as a comprehensive document detailing your entire career history. All of your experiences have led to who you are today, even if previous jobs don’t quite align with the role you’re seeking. But a resume is a marketing document above all else, trying to show why you’re the best person for the job. In the interest of cutting unnecessary information, only highlight recent or particularly relevant positions.
CNBC Make It contributor Peter Yang says unless you’re just starting your career or have decades of high-level performance, stick to four or five jobs spanning 10-15 years at most. Exceptions can be made for well-known companies or particularly relevant projects. Instead, focus that space on your major accomplishments from your recent roles to highlight that you’re still creating value.
Duties over accomplishments
Again, you need to use your limited resume space to present yourself as the ideal candidate. A list of duties won’t accomplish that. Sure, it shows that you’ve done some of what the recruiter is looking for with this open position, but it’s assumed that everyone applying will meet at least some of the basic criteria. Your goal is to show why you do these tasks better than anyone else.
Save your list of duties for later conversations about your workday. Instead, use your resume as the “greatest hits” of your career. ResumeGuru says to pivot and use that space to emphasize outcomes and your personal accomplishments. Show how you, personally, helped your company in the past. Don’t just list soft skills, highlight how you’ve used them to achieve actionable results.
Wrap up
There’s an art to building a resume, and many hiring managers have different preferences on what the ideal resume looks like. But a good first step in creating or updating your resume is to axe these types of content. Resumes have evolved, and while many of these sections were commonplace in the past, they can hurt your chances in the current market.
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