3 Things To Leave Off Your Resume (If You Want To Get Hired!)
By Lisa Petsinis
If you want to land your ideal job, you need a resume that gets the right attention.
Most people cringe at the thought of doing them – after all, a good application takes time to prepare and the odds of getting a reply much less an interview are statistically low.
I’ve reviewed thousands of resumes in my HR, recruitment, and coaching career and there are some things that make you stand out and other outdated things that get you eliminated from the get-go.
Here is the truth that you might not want to hear: To be successful you must ensure your resume passes the 7-second test. That’s right; the average recruiter spends 7 seconds looking at your most important career document. But you don’t have to either give up or put out less-than-stellar work.
Here are 3 things to exclude from your resume if you want your application to make it into the “yes” pile:
1. An objective
Your resume should not open with an objective statement, which is typically more about you than them. Yes, your career goals matter, but the primary initial concern on the recruiter’s mind is how your experience and skills could make an impact at their organization.
Instead of putting an objective, or worse, jumping right into your work experience, place a headline or summary statement on the top of your resume underneath your name and contact details. It should be a one-line statement that describes how and why you’re a perfect fit for the job. Take the time to tailor this section to the specific application. You can get clues on what to include from the introduction or job purpose section of the posting.
2. Irrelevant information
Gone are the days when you would include your entire work history, volunteer experience, hobbies, full address, and references. There isn’t space nor does a recruiter have the time to read so much detail. Simply include information that will be most helpful for them to determine you’re a match for their specifications, and make sure it’s targeted directly for the job at hand. Take note of key words in the job posting and ensure you highlight them in your resume.
Here’s the basics of what’s relevant or and what’s not:
Include:
Name, designations, and contact number and email address. You can include your LinkedIn address for easy cross-referencing.
Work experience that is relevant to the job. Early work history – especially unrelated experience – aren’t needed unless you’re showing career progression or diversity of experience.
Include volunteer experience and hobbies that are directly related or that shows your well-roundedness, but you don’t have to include all of these. Maximize your space for the most important points.
Exclude:
Addresses are no longer needed in this virtual world, and typically employers only contact you via phone and email. If you live out of the area, indicate that you’re willing to relocate.
References will be requested when you reach a certain stage in the search. By putting this on your resume and sharing them early, you are giving out personal information unnecessarily. Also, there is no need to include “References upon request” – it takes up room better used for accomplishments.
3. Fancy formatting
Columns, lines, serif fonts, icons, and special formatting not only gets stuck in an Applicant Tracking System (“ATS”) and avoid these for enhanced readability.
Some industries, such as creative fields may appreciate a more aesthetic layout, but, recruiters want to easily scan the page for key information.
Keep it simple with a sans-serif font such as Arial, Tahoma, or Verdana. Limit bolding to things you want to draw attention to, such as your section headers and job titles.
Avoid large text-only sections or too many bullets. Say the most in as few words as possible, and in bite-size pieces. There is such a thing as death by bullets! Keep them to a reasonable number (generally a max of 6) and use a clean symbol such as a circle or square.
Overall, lots of white space is pleasing to the eye and your reader will thank you.
Maximize your investment in time and effort by eliminating these common pitfalls and you won’t regret it. Get the interview and the job you want.
Lisa Petsinis is a certified Career and Life Coach and former Human Resources Leader who works with resourceful individuals to create a career and life they love. Contact Lisa to learn about her services and an insider's view into the job search process and make meaningful progress in your career starting today.