30 Jan 5 Things You Can Skip on Your Next Resume
Resume writing is SO important. Why? If you want to make an impression and be considered as a candidate for an incredible job position, you must make a strong first impression. One of the best — and easiest — ways to do this is to create an eye-catching and relevant resume.
Some experts say that you only have 30 seconds to make an impression. 30 seconds for recruiters to place your resume in the “I want to interview” pile. This means that you cannot clutter your resume – you must take your time! Let’s talk about five things you can leave off the next time you write your resume. Bonus: Resume-writing tips you need to know.
1. Irrelevant experience
You don’t need to fill the space on your resume with details regarding every job you’ve ever held. Rather, only list the jobs and experience that are relevant to the position you’re applying for. Too much experience can prove detrimental to your chance of being hired, as it shows that you do not commit and that you move from job to job often.
2. Avoid long blocks of text (Resume Writing 101!)
One of the best resume writing tips for you to remember is to make your resume easy to skim. You can do this by using bullets, lists, and subheadings. You also want to avoid long blocks of text. Managers will likely not spend the time reading through these long paragraphs, and you won’t make leave impression you hope.
3. Hobbies and interests
As managers and recruiters are looking through stacks of resumes, they aren’t looking for someone who has fun outside of work, but they are looking for a candidate who will make a difference in the office. They want someone who can be successful in the position and who possesses the desired skills. They can learn more about you personally — such as your hobbies and interests — during the interview or after you are hired. The resume is the time to make them impressed with your work.
4. Embellishments
Don’t try to exaggerate certain skills and experience to make up for a lack of certain qualifications. According to a CareerBuilder survey, 42% of employers will still consider a candidate who only meets three of five key qualifications. Additionally, the survey found that more than 56% of employers have found a lie on a resume. Be honest and do not exaggerate. While these things may capture the attention at the beginning of the hiring process, it may cost you the job in the end.
5. A second page
Don’t provide so much information that your resume continues onto a second page. Remember, you only have 30 seconds, so your second page will likely be ignored and not even looked at. You want to provide only the most relevant, important data on your resume. If your resume flows onto a second page, adjust your formatting or remove some information that is old or not pertinent.
While there are many resume writing tips to help you generate a high-quality, eye-catching resume, keep the above five things in mind. You will have a more concise, informative, and well-written resume that will make a strong first impression.
