The Most Effective Resume Tips: 5 Things NOT To Put On Your Resume

Today we're talking about… *🥁* RESUME WRITING MISTAKES!

I receive a LOT of questions on how you can make your resume stand out. There are many misconceptions and insecurities about the do’s and don’ts which I'm here to clear up for GOOD. 

If used the right way, your resume can be the golden ticket to get that highly desired job interview. No need to dig deep into the trick box – it’s fairly simple, I promise.

🤞🏼 Here are 5 resume writing tips on what to include and what to better leave off your resume.

If you are ready to create a KILLER resume without unnecessary fluff then... 

▪️keep on reading below👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼  or

▪️check out this video on Youtube 

1.  A Detailed List Of Every Single Little Thing You’ve Ever Done 📝

Your resume is not your whole career history on paper. There’s no need to mention an internship you did back in the nineties. Focus on your career highlights only.

Direct your audience to what you want them to know about your skills, accomplishments and work stories. Nobody wants to know your role description - talk about a snooze fest. 💤  What is the impact you made on the role? 

DON’T BE AFRAID TO LEAVE THINGS OFF YOUR RESUME!

▪️ Leave out sentences that will distract your reader from your biggest accomplishments

▪️ Leave out keywords and certifications that aren’t relevant to the role you’re looking at.

▪️ Dramatically shorten experiences that have nothing to do with what you’re interested in now.

▪️ Don’t bold things that you don’t want your reader taking away as a first impression.

2. Waffling Speech 💬

Be specific

Read every bullet point of your resume out loud and remove all of the unnecessary additional words you can find. You have limited space on your resume, so we want to ensure every single word adds value. If it doesn't, throw it out!

Example: “Responsible for managing advertising department’s budget...” becomes “Managed advertising department’s budget...”

USE SIMPLE LANGUAGE – QUICK AND EASY IS THE WAY TO GO!

How to handle references

⚠️ “References available on request.”⚠️

 Just ditch it. It's implied that you have professional references who can speak on your behalf. List the name, job title, email address and LinkedIn profile of your references to generate trust. You could even include quotes from these testimonials. 

What about computer skills?

Everyone knows you can use Microsoft Office suite – it’s a no-brainer. I’d recommend mentioning your computer skills ONLY if they are specific and essential to your job.

What you need to keep in mind

Reduce the graphics in your resume to an absolute minimum. The algorithm of the application tracking system (ATS) can’t read graphics, so all of that information simply gets lost.

Generic interests

Recruiters want to know who you are and why you do what you do. They don’t care about your hobbies, but they care about how you’ll add value to the company. Dog walking, reading, travelling – sure, it sounds okay, but how do any of these generic interests differentiate you? It’s not original at all.

NO ONE WILL HIRE YOU BASED ON THE FACT THAT YOU LIKE DOG WALKING.

Show them who you are. If you want them to pick you, you need to give them something to CONNECT with – your values and motivations. Say something that could strike an emotional chord or spark a memorable conversation mid-interview. At the very least, be highly specific.

Examples: Settlers of Catan, Quentin Tarantino films, Mediterranean cooking, Lego Star Wars collections, …

In Give and Take, Wharton professor Adam Grant emphasizes that similarities matter most when they’re rare.

“We bond when we share uncommon commonalities, which allow us to feel that we fit in and stand out at the same time,” he says.

YOUR INTERESTS ARE A HUGE BONDING OPPORTUNITY WITH YOUR RESUME READER. DON'T WASTE IT!

“I run marathons to push myself to be the best I can be BECAUSE when I set a goal, I achieve it.” 

You could also call it “additional info” or “more about me” 

▪️My entire career to date has been driven by my passion for…

▪️I am motivated in my personal and professional life by…

▪️I am on the board for the homeless dogs’ shelter because… 

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU BRING IT BACK TO THE JOB YOU ARE APPLYING FOR. 

3. Personal Data

Personal data is a total waste of prime resume real estate. No employer will make the interview call based on your age, marital status, or excellent health.

As we discussed before, the only time that including hobbies or personal interests on a resume is a good idea is when your interests are relevant to the position for which you're applying. For the most part, you can cover this in the actual interview.

Details about your Location

You should add your location📍 (city), but it’s not necessary to write your full address down.

4. Reasons for leaving 

That’s a tricky one. If there is a major gap in your professional history, you should explain it, but don’t start justifying every single thing.

It never counts in your favour. If you left a job involuntarily, that's a strike against you. Laid off always sounds a bit like fired to some employers. Even if you left voluntarily, that can also a strike against you, and the employer may worry that you won't stick with the new job either.

AS A GENERAL RULE, THE BEST STRATEGY IS TO NEVER RAISE THE ISSUE.

5. A photo (if not the norm)

In some organizations, putting your picture on a resume eliminates it automatically. This method is used to avoid exposure to possible discrimination complaints.

Discrimination protections notwithstanding, pictures simply give employers another reason to reject your resume. If they don't like your looks, if they think you look too young, too old, too fat, too thin, too good looking, not good looking enough, or whatever, your resume may get tossed out unread.

You want to be judged on the basis of your talents and qualifications, not on your looks. So – unless you are a model or a performing artist – you’ll be better off without including a picture. 🚫 📸

If you follow these 5 guidelines, modernizing your resume will be the shining star of your personal branding. Still want more? I’ve got another FREEBIE for you. 🎉🎉 

Download my Killer Resume Cheat Sheet now to receive a sample template that instantly makes you stand out. ✨ Feel free to share these tips and follow me on the gram so you never miss the latest career advice.

Stay badass,

Rosie x