According to some staffing firm experts, on average, a Recruiter only spends up to six (6) seconds when reviewing the resume of a prospective hire. When one is trying to find the solution to high-volume needs, one can’t spend too much time on each potential candidate. This means the margin of error is little and you don’t have much time to impress either. How can you get 7 seconds or more? Well, this article will give you a few tips on what not to include in your resume, so at least you give abilities and work history a chance in this ‘cutthroat sport!’ Let’s review the parts of the resume you can remove from your resume right away, that will help you avoid the recycle bin of the hiring managers desktop:
The Objective. Like most resume objectives, I’m sure you’re giving the same ole’ cut and dry, “___ professional seeking an opportunity that will expand my ___ skills.” And I’m telling you now, no one wants to hear you say the same thing the last candidate’s resume said. Stand out. Get ahead. Strike emotion. Instead of an overly drawn out run-on-sentence, write an objective that resembles an elevator pitch. Give the reader an explanation of who are you, what you’re interested in, and explain how your skills can serve as a benefit to the company hiring.
The Headshot. Are you applying for a position in Hollywood or the entertainment industry? Are you planning to find a position outside of the United States? If not, please remove the headshot. Although your appearance plays a role in your career, an accounting firm doesn’t care to see your hair grain in a resume. If you’re the right applicant, they’ll find all this out in due time without you providing a picture.
The Tacky Email Address. Young professionals looking to enter the work field fail at this aspect most often. If you’re using the same email address you created in computer class in 7th grade, that’s a good indication that it’s time to create an alternative address for professional and/or personal use….but most certainly professional use! No one wants to hire [email protected] or [email protected].
The Mailing Address. When looking for career options with the optimism of moving, remove your current location from your resume. Also, with identity theft at its peak in the United States, you can also remove your street address, and simply leave the city and state, i.e. Washington, DC.
The Personal Information. Keep it professional! This isn’t a visit to the Social Security Administration, it’s your career. Your social security number, marital status, nationality, and spiritual beliefs are not needed on your resume. Another thing Recruiters cringe at when they review resumes is the “hobby section.” This isn’t summer camp. Unless the hobby directly relates to the position or you are new to the workforce and need to include filler information because you lack experience, leave this section out. You can also use LinkedIn to advertise what your hobbies are but stray away from including this information on your actual resume. It can hurt more than it’ll help.
Please note, these tips are suggestions from hiring managers who excel in business recruitment efforts. For more expert resume advice, you can check out parts two and three. Once you’ve made these changes to your resume, look through our Job Search page for available positions and apply!
