Most hiring managers read your resume in about 20 seconds, according to About Jobs. An effective resume uses that time wisely with organized headings highlighting your most relevant information and clear, concise descriptions. If your resume isn't the lean, mean job-getting machine it needs to be, give it an overhaul by removing 10 things that lose the attention of hiring managers, annoy them and often cause them to press the delete button.
1. Remove the objective statement. Hiring managers want to know what you can do for them, not what they can do for you. Begin your resume with a professional profile that summarizes your skills and experience, not your personal aspirations.
2. Remove the "fluff." When prospective employers get bogged down in excessive wordiness or fluff text in their fast dash through a resume, they often read no further. Catch and hold their attention with written material that is sharp, clean and to the point.
3. Remove bad grammar. Even if you're highly experienced and talented, a poorly written resume makes you appear unprofessional to a hiring manager. If you don't have strong grammar skills, get help from someone who does, such as a professional editor.
4. Remove extra phone numbers. Don't include more than one phone number on your resume unless it's absolutely necessary. If you must list more than one number, include the times that each number should be called.
5. Remove information that could promote discrimination. Information that reveals ethnic background, age or other personal information can allow a potential employer to discriminate against you without fear of consequences by removing your resume from further consideration.
6. Remove excessive information about your education. Your high school and other education that isn't relevant to the job you're applying for and unnecessary fluff doesn't interest hiring managers. The years you attended school can promote discrimination by revealing your age.
7. Delete irrelevant experience. Hiring managers are only interested in experience that qualifies you for their open position. Remove any information about unrelated activities and past employment.
8. Delete basic software skills. It's not necessary to list standard skills employers expect all applicants to have. Provide only your advanced or non-standard software skills.
9. Delete references. Most hiring managers aren't interested in your references in their first read of your resume. The words, "References available upon request," add unnecessary fluff.
10. Delete excessive page length. Unless you're a medical professional, educator or other type of professional whose experience requires a lengthy resume, there's no need to span several pages. Cut the fluff and filler and trim your resume down to one page if possible, or no more than two to three pages if you have a significant amount of relevant material.
Your resume is your main tool for getting a potential employer's attention and cutting your path forward to the interview stage of the hiring process. Keep your tool clean and sharp by removing the 10 things that clog up resumes and stop them from working.
Photo courtesy of Boians Cho Joo Young at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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