Insights

Advice and thoughtful leadership from our experts.

What Should and Should Not Be On Your Resume

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A professional resume is the key to getting an interview and landing your next job!  For hiring managers that receive hundreds of resumes, the “6 second rule” is a very true statistic.  In just 6 seconds, your resume could be put in the “no” pile based on formatting, typos, or TMI (too much info).  Take the time to do it right!  In most cases, less is more. The trick is finding the right balance.  Always include key attributes and details that accentuate your skills, abilities, and accomplishments which make you the best candidate for the job and eliminate a second look at the rest.   Focus on the work that requires more of you and “brands” you.

Every resume SHOULD contain the following information to showcase your professional experience:

  1. Information with relevant URL link to LinkedIn, professional email address, and one main contact phone number
  2. A Summary of Qualification or Career Narrative (in lieu of an Objective)
  3. Accurate dates, title, duties, and metrics for every position on the resume
  4. High impact bullet points
  5. Key words and phrases from a job posting without plagiarizing
  6. Accomplishment and achievements

Every resume should EXCLUDE:

  1. An outdated generic opening OBJECTIVE; instead, go with a summary statement
  2. Irrelevant and outdated experience
  3. Personal information such as social security, marital status, age, hobbies, or photograph
  4. Personal pronouns such as “my” or “I”; never write in 1st or 3rd person
  5. An unprofessional personal email address
  6. Blogs, Pinterest or Instagram URLs that are unrelated to your targeted position
  7. Current and past salary information
  8. Cliché buzz words such as “team player”, “go-getter”, or “outside the box”.
  9. Current computer skills in which you actually have knowledge and proficiency.
  10. References–but be prepared to give a list upon request

Most importantly, remember that a resume is as much about where you are going as where you have been.  By showcasing your past experience you can trace a path to where you want to be!

Written by: Cathy Forbes Boggs, Professional Recruiter