Writing a resume is a really big deal!
You've got just one page to record the pertinent details about your education, your work experience, your job skills... and it needs to be visually attractive. That's not easy to do!
Today, instead of focusing on what you must include on your resume, take a look at five things you might as well leave off.
5 Pieces of Data to Ditch
When You Write Your Next Resume
1. The year you graduated:
Unless you graduated in the last five years, the year you finished high school or college should not be listed on your resume. In fact, it will give away your age and potentially make you seem outdated or irrelevant. Trust us, you can definitely leave this off your next resume.
2. An average GPA:
Just last week, I saw a resume where a 2.5 grade point average was prominently listed next to the name of the university where it had been obtained. My first thought, "Oh, look.... a C+ student."
I was an excellent student, but no where, ever, was my GPA listed on a resume. Leave this off of your resume too!
Even if you had a 4.0 average, prospective employers really don't care about what kind of student you were, they want to know what kind of worker you will be.
3. Obvious skills:
Most employers assume and expect you to have basic computer skills, including the ability to use Word, Excel and/ or Power Point. Therefore, there's no need to take up precious space on your resume with this kind of information.
Personal traits should also be eliminated from your resume. Rather then using words and phrases like good work ethic, great communication skills, reliable, dependable, disciplined and personable, highlight your specific job skills and technical knowledge. It's a much better use of space.
4. References:
When searching for a job, be sure to have an assortment of personal and professional references you can submit to a hiring official. They do not need to be listed on the resume.
Instead, they can be printed on to a separate page with a title that simply states, References for Your Name. Be ready to send these references...upon request.
5. Repetitive language:
It can be challenging to summarize your work experience and job responsibilities over and over again, particularly if you've held similar roles throughout your career. In this case, get creative!
Spice things up with a little verbal variety. Beginning each job description paragraph with the words Responsible for will cause your resume to blend in with the crowd. Instead, make it stand out with a few thoughtfully selected words.
Here are just a few examples of ways you can add interest while eliminating redundancy:
- Manage= administer, direct, lead, preside, orchestrate, facilitate, oversee, supervise
- Develop= construct, design, engineer, produce, spark, establish, build, conceptualize
- Improve= expand, enhance, innovate, rebuild, perfect, modify, strengthen, upgrade, optimize
- Increase= advance, expand, extend, amplify, maximize, promote, boost, elevate
Do you need expert help writing or updating your resume?
The pros at Spontaneous Speech Coach can assist you every step of the way. Call us today: 361-271-1700. We'll work with you to create a high impact resume that is optimized to get you noticed.
The best preparation for good work tomorrow is to do good work today.
Elbert Hubbard
