Despite LinkedIn, Facebook and other new job hunting forums, at some point in the application process you’ll be asked for a resume. A good resume can still help you get that all-important interview for an open position. There are many excellent Internet articles and even a For Dummies book on what to include on your resume. But sometimes less is more – and resume writing is no exception. So what should you cut from your first draft? Here are five suggestions for meaningful exclusions.
References Available on Request. Drop this archaic language! All hiring managers know you need solid references at some point in the job hunt. Have your list ready before they ask. Verify your contact information for each reference to be sure it’s up to date – and use that process to let each person know you want to use them as a reference.
Your Photo. The specter of a discrimination lawsuit looms large in the fears of every HR person. If they have a picture and choose not to hire you, it’s possible that you could come back and sue them. According to Careerbuilder.com, “In most cases, they’ll throw your résumé away without looking at it, to avoid the issue altogether.”
Every Job You’ve Had Since You Were 16. This advice comes direct from the publication HR World. Evaluate every position you include in your resume by these two criteria: relevant and recent. If a job doesn’t qualify, leave it out.
Resume Clichés. Investopedia.com warns against boring language in a resume. Phrases like “team player” and “detail-oriented” are no longer effective in selling yourself. Use a thesaurus if you need it – but better yet, really describe what makes you a team player or how you actually used your attention to detail to make a specific project successful.
Unprofessional email address. Id Interns helps students and recent graduates in the arts. They remind job and internship seekers that personalized handles like sweetiepie02@yahoo.com or designfreak82@hotmail.com will not impress a potential employer – and may give out information (like your age) that shouldn’t be included in a resume. Instead, they suggest a simple first name [dot] last name address for all job-related correspondence.
via 5 Things to Leave Off Your Resume | Resumebear Online Resume.
5 Things to Leave Off Your Resume
