6 Things to Remove from Your Resume

You want to catch the attention of the hiring manager, but your resume could actually be the problem. There are a number of things you need to remove from your resume if you want a successful job hunt. You have to get rid of the fluff and the extraneous details and focus on what is relevant. Your main goal is to get the hiring manager’s attention and show them your skills. You should never include information that does not directly relate to these goals.

1. Skip the Big Words

One of the first things to remove from your resume is big words. If you had to look up these words in a thesaurus, there is also a decent chance that you are using them incorrectly. Instead, consider if you would actually use those words in real life. If you would never use that word in day-to-day life, you need to change it.

2. Be Wary of the Objective

When editing a resume, one potential problem is the objective section. Basically, everyone has the same objective; to get a job with a company and have a rewarding career. Instead of devoting a section of your resume to useless information, create a career summary. This should showcase what value you bring to the company.

3. Watch Out for Third-Person

Third-person voice is something you should remove from your resume. At best, this will make you sound stuffy and overly formal. The hiring manager knows you wrote the resume, so there is nothing wrong with using first-person instead. You should still skip the pronouns, but the resume should be in first-person instead of third-person.

4. Skip the Extraneous Jobs

Did you work at a fast food joint 20 years ago? If so, there is an excellent chance that you should drop it from your resume. Unless you absolutely need that job experience to reach your target audience, you do not have to include it. Your resume is not an autobiography. Instead, it should include the jobs and positions that relate to your position. It should also include the most recent jobs. It is recommended that you show about 10 years of work history in detail.

5. Avoid Padding your Resume

Recruiters can typically tell when you pad your resume. Do not make up education or work experiences that you do not have. Sooner or later, the employer will find out. Employers often verify degrees and job experiences, so your lie will be discovered.

6. Be Wary About Your Interests

While practicing juggling or running a gun club are fine hobbies, they could lose you a potential job. In most cases, you do not want to include your interests at all on the resume. Unless your interests relate to the job at hand, they are not necessary to include. If you do include your interests, make sure to leave off any polarizing interests that could rub someone the wrong way.

In a nutshell, stick to experience that is relevant to the position, make it easy to scan for busy recruiters and hiring managers, and be genuine. If it’s a struggle to figure out what’s truly relevant, consider hiring a professional resume writer.