A resume is an all-important tool for catching the attention of potential employers and scoring an interview, but no matter how much a job seeker obsesses over a resume, their efforts might be in vain if they're focusing on the wrong things. Here are 10 resume elements that aren't worth fretting about because, in the end, they really don't matter to employers.
1. The Length of Your Resume
Everyone has heard the advice that job seekers should keep resumes to no more than one page in length, but in reality, employers won't mind if you add an extra page. The most important thing is keeping your resume focused and to the point.
2. Fancy Design Elements
Spending hours working on the design of your resume is unnecessary, even if you're applying for marketing and creative positions. According to CheatSheet, 78 percent of executives who responded to a survey from The Creative Group actually prefer a plain, old-fashioned resume.
3. The Salutation of Your Cover Letter
If you're stressing yourself out trying to find the hiring manager's name so you can address your cover letter to that person, stop. Job seekers can simply use "Dear Hiring Manager" instead, although they should avoid the more disliked "Dear Sir or Madam."
4. Thinking Outside the Box With Your Cover Letter
Job seekers hear endless stories about how professionals scored their dream jobs by creating personalized websites for a company, producing videos, or even composing songs. While you should avoid generic cover letters, a personalized, professional letter is all most hiring managers want to see.
5. Your Educational Institution
The degree you earned matters far more to hiring managers than where you went to school. According to CheatSheet, only 9 percent of business leaders see your educational institution as a major factor in their hiring decisions.
6. Your GPA
Once you leave school, GPA doesn't count for much, but new graduates can still leave it in their resumes. Remember that the majority of job openings have no GPA requirements.
7. Summer Jobs
Listing every single position you've ever held is not necessary. Job seekers can leave out summer jobs, though they may want to include them if they're relevant to the position.
8. Study-Abroad Experience
Studying abroad can be life-changing, but it makes very little difference in hiring decisions. Feel free to leave it out to save room for more relevant details.
9. Hobbies and Personal Information
Job seekers should avoid including information that's related to their personal lives. Instead, they should use their resume to detail professional skills and achievements from past jobs.
10. Your Objective Statement
Hiring managers know that you are submitting a resume to try to score a job. Leave the objective statement out of your resume to make more space available on your document.
Job seekers who are in the process of crafting a resume must remember that certain details simply don't matter to employers. Avoid these resume elements to create a focused, professional resume.
Photo courtesy of Everydayplus at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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