A resume is more often than not a company’s first impression of you, and as we all know, first impressions last. So, here are 9 things to eradicate from your resume before they kill your application:
- An unprofessional email address
Using an unprofessional email address can reflect immaturity and lose credibility with the recruiter viewing your resume. It will often be the first point of contact between you and a recruiter, so it is essential to present yourself with professionalism. If you’ve had the same cheesy email since you were 17, it may be time to create a new one, just keep it simple and easy to remember.
2. Spelling/grammatical errors
This one may seem self-explanatory, but even a simple spelling error shows a lack of attention to detail. Remember, it’s all about making a good first impression! Make sure to double check your resume, use spell check, read it aloud, maybe even ask someone else to check it for you. Don’t let “you’re” resume be your downfall!
3. A headshot
Unless you are a movie star or model, there is no reason to include a headshot on your resume. Including a photo may lead to preconceived judgements based on your appearance rather than your qualifications and experience. A research study (Ruffle & Studiner, 2015) found that upon sending 5,312 resumes to 2,656 job openings, “a plain male needs to send over twice as many resumes as an attractive male for an equal chance at a call back”.
4. Personal details
Details such as your age, marital status, children, nationality or gender can inadvertently lead to bias and discrimination in the hiring process. It is best to focus on your qualifications, skills and experience that are relevant to the job.
5. Too many words
Too many words can drown out important information on your resume. Recruiters are often required to review a large volume of resumes, so make yours to stick out and easy to remember.
You don’t need to write an autobiography, just focus on the important information that is relevant to the job.
That means, if you have 20 years of experience, only showcase your career highlights and remember less is more!
6. Short-term roles
You don’t have to list every single position you have ever held on your resume. Recruiters are not only interested in relevant job experience, but also time spent in the role. 3 years in one job looks better than 3 jobs in one year as it shows you’re a reliable and committed candidate! So try to focus on your long-term positions!
Note, there are exceptions to this guideline where it is relevant to the job you’re applying for– contract work, temporary assignments or internships. As such, it may be best to note the context of the role where necessary, letting the recruiter know, for example ‘(temporary role)’.
7. A separate skills section
Don’t waste your time crafting a list of skills of the ideal candidate – a recruiter won’t necessarily take your word for your “impressive attention to detail”.
It is best if you demonstrate your professional skills through experience and specific roles. Include concise examples that showcase your ability in the relevant job your applying for; this may include responsibilities, industry-specific skills, or previous workplace accomplishments.
Fortunately, if you are responding to a job advertisement, you are often provided with a rubric of skills you can tailor your resume to!
8. Reasons for leaving previous jobs
It is not necessary to justify the termination of previous jobs – you are not on trial. It may be actually be of detriment to you and give a negative and defensive impression to recruiters. While you may be asked in the interview about these details, your resume should demonstrate your experience as a valued candidate.
With that said, as mentioned before if the position was a short-term role, it may be worth noting this next to the job title to prevent preconceptions of poor tenure.
9. Outdated/inaccurate information
Most importantly, be honest. If you find yourself having to bend the truth to fit a role, chances are it’s not the job for you. Don’t fret, your opportunity will come along. In the meantime, ensure all information is relevant, accurate and up-to-date!
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Important Note: These articles have been prepared for general circulation and are circulated for general informational purposes only; these articles should not be regarded as business or investment advice. The articles represent the views of the writers and are subject to change without notice. Additionally, while every care has been taken in the preparation of the articles no representation or warranty as to accuracy or completeness of any statement is given. An individual or organisation should, before any business or investment decision is made, consider the appropriateness of the information in this document, and seek professional advice, having regard to objectives, situation and needs. This document is solely for the use of the party to whom it is provided.