Cringeworthy Resume Content

I've read thousands of resumes and cover letters through the years and a few terms immediately come to mind when I think of cringe-worthy phrases or words.

Have you ever read something on a resume (even your own) that made you cringe?

Perhaps you started to read or write a resume and wanted to stop reading, and pull out your red pen and start crossing things out?

Here are just a few of the “cringe-worthy” words and phrases that I have encountered on a client’s resume. DO NOT MAKE THESE MISTAKES!

"Detail-oriented, results-oriented, accomplishment-oriented, sales-oriented, numbers-oriented, people-oriented." 

These overused and underwhelming phrases do nothing to help your resume. Instead, try to identify unique personality traits, soft skills, or performance numbers to use in your resumes summary section.

"Think outside the box".

Many people claim to be active contributors, and perhaps you are one of them! Instead of “Think outside the box” choose “innovation” and back it up with projects or work you've done that proves it. Be sure to use numbers to highlight success and really pop off the page.

"Excellent. Well-rounded. Team-player."

These phrases are subjective and just your opinion of yourself. Add something more concrete that responds to what the position needs.

"Responsible for, handled, managed, managed, managed".

There are ways to show you led a team without repeating words or using outdated jargon. Try: led, directed, guided, headed, built, grew, spurred, championed, bootstrapped, or delivered to create interest and minimize repetitive verbs.

"I, I, I, I, I."

As hard as it may be, don't let every sentence of your cover letter start with "I". Start with keyword action phrases or an interesting work-related (brief) story.
 

Is Christmas a good time to look for a job?

The holidays are upon us and many worry it isn't a good time for a job search. I repeatedly hear the question “Is Christmas a good time to look for a job?” For many job seekers there has been a huge worry that the holidays are not a good time and that they should delay until January to resume their search for a new career.

With many years of experience in recruiting, professional resume writing, and guiding clients on their job search, allow me to highlight some of the many benefits to continuing on with your job search through the holiday season.

𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐛𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬. Companies have new budgets in place to entice and hire new candidates. They are still hiring and actively looking. Furthermore, companies want to head into 2021 staffed up and ready to tackle next years goals.

𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. Your competition is less since many people decide to hold off until the new year. Plus, you will impress companies with your dedication and commitment. 

𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞. Things are winding down at your company due to the holidays and end of year, so you have more time to focus on job search. In addition, this is a great time to use any vacation days that you have accumulated that do not role over to focus on your job search.

𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐬. Around the holidays people are (generally) in better moods. Between more time off, seeing family and friends, shopping, and reflection. It's a perfect time to reach out and start a conversation.

So I ask you, will you sit back and battle with all the competition in January, or will you press on with your job searching in December?

Interview Questions to Ask the Hiring Organization

You must be prepared to answer any questions a hiring manager or recruiter has during an interview. However, you must also be prepared to ask your own series of questions about the organization.  Interviews are two-way and this is your opportunity to ask some of your questions in order to gain determine if the company and positions is as good of a fit for you as you are for it.

Here are some possible questions to ask during an interview, not all will apply to your role, but can help spur some ideas of the questions you should be asking:     

• What are the most important milestones or yardsticks by which this organization will evaluate an employee’s performance in this position? 

• What do you see as the organization’s most critical goals for the next three-to-five years?  How do you see the person in this position addressing these goals and objectives? 

• ‘What industry trends have shaped the organization’s goals, objective and priorities for the next year?  What emerging trends are likely to influence this organization within the next three-to-five years?   

• What do you see as this new employee’s greatest challenges in working to fulfill these goals? 

• What’s it like to work here?  What’s the culture and environment?  How would you describe the typical workday?

• How do people tend to communicate, solve problems and resolve conflicts?   

• What do you see as the organization’s greatest achievement of the last three years?  

• What leadership style would never work here?  How would the ideal leader operate in this position?

Finding Recruiter and Hiring Manager Email/Contact Information

Found that new job you have been wishing for but not sure how to get your foot in the door.  Reaching out through LinkedIn or by sending an email directly to the person in charge of hiring is a great way to help secure the interview.  However, targeting key figures, recruiters, and decision makers can be difficult and overwhelming for most.

Don't worry! The first step is to find the contact information, including their name, position, and email address to network. And if you are having a hard time locating this information, there are several ways to easily find their contact information.

Be prepared to put on your researcher hat on, but don't be scared, this isn’t hard at all!

1.     First, check social media profiles. This can include Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc.

2.     Second, look on the company website. For smaller companies, they may have a biography section, which will include how to contact the person.

3.     Third, Google it! Put the name of the person and company in separate quotation marks, and then add "email."

Example: “name” AND “company” AND “email”

4.     Fourth, Email lookup services. There are several of these, some of which offer free searches or a free trial. Some popular ones are Hunter.io, Swordfish, and RocketReach. and MailScoop.io.

5.     Fifth, find the company email username and domain name configuration. One place to look for this information is either on the Contact page or Press Room page, where an employee's email address might be found.

Networking is an important step in making that next big career move and getting the job you have been working so hard towards and there are a lot of options available, and connecting directly through email needs to be part of your job hunt process. Stay tuned for our next blog post where we discuss how to create the ultimate Networking Introductory Email. Do not let a simple email be the obstacle to your success!

Combing the power of Vitae Express’s Networking Letter with targeting those key players will give you the competitive edge.  We offer a full career consulting suite that will help you land and nail that next interview.  Book your free consultation today and ask about our 5 Top Tips to Stand Out!

Improving Remote Work Communication Part I

When I launched this company I worked 100% remote with clients. As business grew, services expanded, and the budget allowed, I was able to begin meeting with clients and getting to work with them 1:1. Suddenly I find myself back to remote work, communicating with clients via phone, email, and text.

My return to working completely remote has caused me to reevaluate how I communicate and constantly work to improve communication methods.

This measure is one of my personal self improvement goals during Covid-19, and if you are anything like me, we all need to be careful with how we communicate to others because the non-verbal ques such as posture, inflections, and expressions are not available all the time. The last thing I, or any of you want, is come off as curt, passive-aggressive, or ambiguous. Tone can be construed differently by different people. 🥅

Here are a few suggestions on how you can avoid damaging your work or client relationships while working from remotely:

✅ 𝘼𝙙𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧. If you are emailing a close colleague, you can be more informal and casual. They most likely know your quick reply means you are in a hurry or efficient.

✅ 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙛 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙. How many times have you read your email or text and thought, "That doesn't sound like how I meant for it to sound." Reread what you wrote to make sure it expresses your thoughts correctly.

✅ 𝘼𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙙 𝙣𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙨. Think of how you feel when you read an email or text like, "Your solution didn't work and we've got a problem." Defensiveness takes over. Consider rewording it to: "We have an issue and need your help."

These are just a few tips and focus on communicating via email, text, and messenger. What’s great is these same guidelines also apply to corresponding with recruiters via email and I cover them with clients in the Interview Training and Job Search Training I deliver.

In Part 2 of this series, we will be covering improving remote communication via phone and video conference.

#remotework #remoteworking #remoteworker #remoteworklife #remoteworktips

4 Pro Tips for Video Interviews

In age of Covid-19 there has been a heightened demand for teleconference services. Many applicants who have secured interviews are being asked to engage in a video interview. While this is not new, and web-based video interviews have been happening for years, the demand for the video conference interview has expanded.

For anyone that has ever been part of a video interview, the 1st thought that comes to mind is likely “awkward.” Signal delays, drops in service, uncomfortable eye contact, and constantly talking over one another are normal and should not distract you. Here are 4 video interview tips to help make you stand out.

Practice

Conducting a dry run is one of the most important things you can do to ensure you come across as polished and professional. Do everything you can to ensure your internet connection is as strong as possible and practice with your conferencing equipment so that you are aware of tendencies to delay or lag in the transmission.

(PRO TIP: Grab a friend to help you dry run the interview, this way you are more comfortable with communicating via video.)

Background

The last thing you want during your interview is for the interviewer to be distracted by your background (dirty house/office/busy image or anything blatantly non-professional). Practice proper job interview etiquette by setting your computer in a clean, well lit area and do a test run to see what is behind you and visible on screen.

(PRO TIP: You want to conduct your video interview in a quite, private area. Silence all notifications on your phone and turn off all streaming services in the background.)

Dress The Part

A video interview is every bit as much an interview as an in person one, so make sure you are properly attired. Proper interview etiquette is to always dress appropriately for the job in which you are applying, not necessarily a day on the job. The same holds true for the video conference. You can change back into your pajamas and robe as soon as it's done.

(PRO TIP: There are tons of meme’s online about working remote or taking an interview with no pants on. While we all have a sense of humor it is unprofessional to only be dressed from the waist up. Also, being dressed for the part can instill a bit of extra confidence.)

Proper Eye Contact

As a human, we are conditioned to look someone in the eye when we are speaking to him or her. When we are video conferencing, remember that when you make eye contact during a video conference, it should be with your web camera – NOT the person's face on your computer.

(PRO TIP: Do not touch your face, fix your hair, wipe away a spot, or act like you are alone in front of a mirror.)

At Vitae Express we can work with you on improving your interview skills. This training can be for in person or via video consultation! If you have more questions about this service, contact us for a free phone consultation.

Preparing Your Resume & Career Tools During Coronavirus

This craziness has everyone locking down, but social distancing doesn’t mean social isolation. Now is a great time to prepare in case of layoffs. Use this time to build your career collateral and connect with those who can impact your success.

Here are some ideas to help out: .

PRACTICE YOUR INTERVIEWING SKILLS
Video and audio recording software platforms like Zoom, FaceTime, and Skype allow you to practice how you sound and look.

DO SOME DEEP DIVE RESEARCH
Sites like LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor are great for getting insight into companies, learning about opportunities, and gaining exposure into opportunities.

ORGANIZE YOUR JOB SEARCH TOOLS AND COLLATERAL

This is a great time to make sure your LinkedIn and resume are up to date, fresh in presentation, and optimized for keywords.

CONNECT WITH PEERS, EMPLOYERS AND COLLEAGUES
With everyone home, people are online this week more than ever and likely more open to connecting by phone. If not this week likely the next. Take this time to get ready.

If you need help with a resume, cover letter, or LinkedIn profile, contact Vitae Express. We are working remote with clients across the country right now!

Applying for Unemployment in Florida

With some federal officials warning that the United States unemployment rate could skyrocket to 20%, getting help will be job No. 1 for many Floridians. Filing for unemployment is one way to do that.

In Florida, the unemployment program is called the Reemployment Assistance Program and it is taking applications now, although the website is very busy.

Who qualifies?

“If you are ordered to self-isolate by a medical professional, government agency,  if you are laid off or sent home without pay by your employer because of COVID-19 concerns, or if you’re caring for an immediate family member who is diagnosed with COVID-19,” said Florida Governor Ron DeSantis during a Tuesday media briefing.

On its website, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity has produced a short video about the application process and the information you will need. That information includes a Social Security number and driver's license, along with employment information from the past 18 months. The amount of money you can get varies by your salary but has a weekly cap of $275. Only Mississippi ($235), Arizona ($240) and Louisiana ($247) pay less. By comparison, Massachusetts pays $823 per week followed by Washington ($790) and Minnesota ($740).

Florida will pay out unemployment benefits for 12 weeks. Only North Carolina does the same. Most states pay for 26 weeks. Some non-U-S citizens legally working here are eligible for unemployment benefits. You are not eligible to receive assistance if your employment has been affected, but you are still receiving wages through paid leave.

For more information and to apply, follow this link:

https://www.stateofflorida.com/articles/florida-unemployment/

Original article link:
https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/as-jobless-claims-skyrocket-heres-how-to-apply-for-unemployment-in-florida/2207862/?amp

It is not all bad news though, some companies in Tampa are hiring:
https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/coronavirus/list-of-places-hiring-in-tampa-bay-area-amid-coronavirus-outbreak

If you need assistance with a new resume, cover letter, or LinkedIn profile contact Vitae Express. We can build career marketing collateral for you that will jump start your job search!

Targetting Work From Home Roles during COVID-10 (Coronavirus)

The governments response to the coronavirus, or Covid-19 , has raised renewed interest in work from home opportunities.

People have been reaching out requesting help with resumes targeting these types of roles. As important as a strong resume is they are also inquiring on what industries to target.

A great resource for finding remote work is FlexJobs. Here are a few industries and roles to help you out:

1) Technology has brought therapy sessions from taking place in a quiet room in an office building, to the comfort of, well, just about anywhere. And with that, more companies are being created in the medical and health fields, as well as philanthropy, education, and pharmaceuticals, and need remote speech pathologists, marriage therapists, and counselors.

2) Many companies need around the clock support for global operations and short-term growth projects. The best part? These customer service, accounting, scheduling, and support tasks don’t need to be done in office, meaning many of them are able to be done at home.

3) Another type of job that’s been transferred from office to couch? Those in client services. A combination of sales management and customer service, these jobs are there to take care of customer’s problems and represent the company when the need arises. Look for job listings as account representatives, client managers, or customer care agents.

5) Remember when you had to shuffle your way to the library after school or early in the morning on weekends for ACT prep? Well, times have changed, and those studying for an exam don’t even need to leave the comfort of their bed. Tutoring positions like prep instructors, ESL teacher, or academic support coaches help a wide variety of ages and many different subject areas.

Original article: https://www.realsimple.com/work-life/life-strategies/job-career/work-from-home-industries-job-categories-flexjobs

How to Avoid an Outdated Resume Part 4: Avoiding ‘Old’ Experience

In the next blog as part of the 4-part series on avoiding an outdated resume in 2020, we will be discussing the importance of placing emphasis on your recent skills and successes while not over emphasizing outdated or ‘old’ experience.

How to Avoid an Outdated Resume Part 4: Avoiding ‘Old’ Experience

In a previous blog post we discussed the importance of highlighting relevant skills and experience. With that focus, it is important to understand how to downplay your dated experience as your industry changes or your career path shifts.

If you are not changing role type or industry, a general rule of thumb is to focus your resume’s content on the last 7-10 years. While you can acknowledge the foundation of your career, hiring managers and recruiters are most interest in your current ‘wins’. 

When transitioning careers or entering into a new field, it may be necessary to remove all old experience and focus on only what is most relevant to these types of positions. This could include new skills gathered during academic studies, on the job training, or continuing education programs. You do not have to completely eliminate your older experience, but keep in mind what they are hiring you for and focus your resume content on that.

How to Avoid an Outdated Resume Part 2: Keep Focused on Relevant Skills and Successes

In the next blog as part of the 4-part series on avoiding an outdated resume in 2020, we will be discussing how to avoid having your resume focused on the most relevant skills and successes.

How to Avoid an Outdated Resume Part 2: Keep Focused on Relevant Skills and Successes

Across all professions there is unique language, terms, and descriptions for job positions. A common example of this is when someone transitions from a functional role, to leadership role or position of accountability. In order to advertise the most relevant skills, be sure to update the content of your resume to reflect the level on which you can produce.

In addition to relevant skills, it benefits everyone to include the result or ‘numerated accomplishment’ of their actions. This can include sales numbers, percentages related to cost reduction or increases in efficiency, budget amounts, and the number of direct/indirect reports. These details on your resume can help you in standing out from the competition.

How to Avoid an Outdated Resume Part 1: Keep Your Tech Skills Up-to-Date

Let’s face it; no one wants to look old or outdated on their resume. For many this could include a lengthy employment history, old technologies, or outdated experiences. In this next 4-part series, we will be addressing how to avoid having your resume look old and outdated in 2020.

How to Avoid an Outdated Resume Part 1: Keep Your Tech Skills Up-to-Date

In order to optimize the keyword count in your resume and make your technology skills up to date be sure you match the technology skills you had to the ones listed on the job posting. A never ending list of various technology skills that includes outdated and proprietary technologies that go beyond those required for the position can cause this area of your resume to be to cluttered and hard to read.

If you do choose to add a list of additional skills, focus on those that are in demand in the market or are relevant to that position. An example could include a posting is requesting knowledge of a specific Electrconic Medical Record (EMR) system, and you know and different one, you can put “EMR Systems” on the resume and also list the one you have knowledge of.

Another point is to not list outdated technologies or assumed skills. The only time I recommend listing Microsoft Word is if the specific job requires a detailed knowledge of that system. For the most part though, knowledge of the Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, etc. are expected for a job.

2020 Resume Tips - Part 5

For the Final part of this Blog series, 2020 Resume Tips, we are discussing the importance of using keywords and alternate keywords in your resume.

5. Use Relevant Keywords

To get past an applicant tracking system or snag a recruiter’s  or hiring manager’s attention, use keywords from the job posting. By doing so, you make it clear you're the perfect person for this position. It also shows that you read the full job description. Companies may use software to sort through applications. Both software and hiring managers tend to skim through resumes for job-specific keywords.

What to do:

·       Stick to attention-grabbing keyword phrases, never allow a bullet point to go over 2 lines in length

·       Keywords are unique to the industry and position, be sure to research what is most relevant to include

·       Use a variety or multiple versions of the same keyword and add keywords throughout the resume in all sections including the text, headers, qualifications, etc.

2020 Resume Tips - Part 4

Continuing on with our Blog series, 2020 Resume Tips, we are looking at the 1/3 of the resume.

4. Improving the 1/3 of Your Resume

The headline of any new article, story, or webpage captures the reader’s attention. This is the same with recruiters and HR managers. Make sure what they see at the top of your resume is eye-catching and makes them want to read more.

What to do:

·       The top ⅓ of the document should grab attention

·       Add a summary, clever headline, a selection of the most important skills

·       Write to-the-point descriptions

·       Start with your most relevant experience

2020 Resume Tips - Part 3

Continuing on with our Blog series, 2020 Resume Tips, we are formatting a resume.

3. Format Correctly for both Visual Review and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

If your resume is a cluttered mess, it will end up in the trash. Showcase your professionalism and organization by formatting it correctly. Make it easy to read with increased line spacing, proper grammar, and organized sections relevant to your past work experience.

What to do:

·       Use easy-to-read fonts

·       Make all hyperlinks live

·       Double-check spelling, grammar

·       Watch for spacing issues

2020 Resume Tips - Part 2

Continuing on with our Blog series, 2020 Resume Tips, we are discussing numbers being used to communicate experience, scope of expertise, and value to potential employers.

Let’s keep rolling! Here is 2020 Resume Tip #2

2. Demonstrate Your Success Numbers
Hiring managers, recruiters, and human resource professionals prefer seeing numbers on a resume. Numbers quantify your results and allow for someone to understand the scope of your success even if they are not an expert in your field.

What to do:
• Add numbers and percentages where you can
• Expand upon impressive results in a cover letter
• Don’t forget volunteer work (i.e. hours and experience)

2020 Resume Tips - Part 1

If you're planning for a new career path in 2020, now is the time to start getting your resume in order. At Vitae Express, we love working with professionals from all fields, and we want you to be equipped with the knowledge to succeed. To give context to how many people are applying for new jobs in January, here is a graph to visualize it better:

Taking time to update resume, adding relevant experience, and creating a compelling formatting can put your application on the top of the candidate pile. You will not be there when someone first looks at your resume, so your resume has to do the talking and communicate your value.

Over the next few weeks we will be sharing a few tips to get you in the right direction.

To get us started though, here is 2020 Resume Tip #1

1. Highlight Relevant Experience
Simply put, you don’t need to list every accomplishment or job you’ve had. Instead, it would be beneficial to list the most relevant or recent experience. Whatever position you're applying for, highlight only your most relevant skills and experience.

What to do:
• Customize your resume to reflect the specific job you’re applying for
• Outline skills you have that make you the perfect candidate
• Talk about projects or successes you’ve had that are relatable

If you live in the Tampa area, surrounding counties, or anywhere in the United States, we would love to work with you on a new resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile. Contact us today for a free phone consultation.

Applying For A Job At This Time Of Day Can Make You 5 Times More Likely To Secure An Interview

This article originally appeared on Forbes.com and was written by Jennifer Liu. I am sharing this article in whole on my blog with full credit to the original author because of the value of the information contained.

If you've ever changed jobs before, you know that applying for a new one is a full-time gig in and of itself. But if you're firing off applications after work, you could be sabotaging your efforts.

According to an analysis of over 1,6000 job applications from TalentWorks, applications received at 7:30 p.m. were the least likely to result in an interview — a slim 3% chance. In fact, applications sent anytime after 4 p.m. had a 5% or less likelihood of leading to a call-back.

But it's not all bad news — adjusting your timing can also improve your chances. The analysis found that the best time to apply for a job was between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. Doing so could make you five times more likely to score an interview. So here are our tips to help you be the early bird that gets the worm — and the interview call-back.

How to Send a Job Application That'll Actually Get Read

Be the first thing in their inbox. Anyone with a working internet connection knows email overload is a struggle. Avoid the competition by sending your application early in the day so it's one of the first things in the hiring manager's inbox; other studies have confirmed emails sent in the early hours yield higher response rates. If you write up your email in the evening, save it as a draft or use an email scheduler (like Boomerang for Gmail) to send it before you head into the office the next morning.

You can also aim for their lunch break. The TalentWorks analysis found the likelihood of an interview decreased for applications sent after the 10 a.m. cutoff — except for a slight bump at 12:30 p.m. This coincides with other findings that lunchtime messages also get a higher response rate, likely because people dedicate some time after their break to catch up on email that's piled up from the morning.

Get in the zone. The "early morning" and "lunchtime" success windows only work if you're sending them in the right time zone for the hiring manager, so make sure to double-check that detail if you're applying to a role in a new city or state.

Craft a good subject line. Your attention to detail shouldn't stop after you're done proofreading your resume and cover letter. To up the chances of your email getting read, include a clear and concise subject line. Make sure it's easily searchable and includes keywords (like the position you're applying for) to help the hiring manager find it later — you know, like when they're pulling up your info for your job interview.

The best time of day to interview for a job

If you are called in for an interview, try to schedule the appointment in the morning if you can. A study from the Harvard School of Business showed that people conducting interviews tended to compare and rate candidates who interviewed later in the day to the candidates they’d spoken with earlier (rather than scoring an interview based on the entire pool of applicants.)

This means that if the person conducting the interview had met with a particularly strong candidate in the morning and had already given out top scores, candidates interviewing later would be judged more harshly to compensate.

A hiring manager who has already given out a number of high marks could feel obligated to give out a lower grade to the next candidate regardless of actual qualifications. Also if an employer has already been impressed with a strong candidate it can be more difficult for subsequent applicants to be as memorable, even if equally qualified.

Scheduling your job interviews at the beginning of the day gives you the best shot at standing out in employers’ eyes, and beating the potential afternoon candidate-fatigue syndrome.

Top 10 resume space fillers that should be left off your resume.

I remember the first ‘real’ resume that I ever created for myself.  I was 18, felt invincible, and believed that I was an excellent candidate for any position. A young, energetic go getter who could make your company millions! Reality had not set in for me yet. The truth was, I was a freshman in college with entry-level experience working customer service in retail and food preparation. It should have been a red flag for me when my twenty months of work experience, mediocre high school performance and limited hobbies could be stretched out to fill nearly three whole pages, but alas I applied and applied for a new job.

Nothing ever came from those applications. What I didn’t know at that time was quality content greatly outweighed the volume of content. Experience and competencies are more critical than overall length. However so many highly qualified applicants are absolutely ruining their opportunities to land the interview by inflating the resume with superfluous information that recruiters do not care about or could even be putting them at risk for identity theft.

Often your resume is the first impression that a potential employer makes of you. Along with correct grammar, contemporary formatting and a clear presentation of your experience and abilities, it is best to omit these Top 10 resume space fillers.

1.    A Photo/Images

We are all proud of the professional head shot we had taken four years ago, especially when they can run upwards of $150 or more.  However the picture needs to go on LinkedIn – not on your resume. While a photo may be necessary in some professions, most jobs do not depend on a persons’ outward appearance. It is a waste of valuable space on a resume and could leave you open to bias opinions of your age or race by the person reviewing your resume.

2.    Hobbies/Interests

It is great to bond with coworkers and employers over mutual interests after you have the job. When it comes to having your hobbies listed on your resume, it is best to leave them off.  I love fishing, but my employer never cared about this. They cared about me giving my best effort at what I was hired to do. A recruiter is looking at a ton of resumes and mutual hobbies are not what will land you the job – recruiters are looking for someone to do the job correctly. Use this space to speak about your accomplishments in the workplace.

3.    Address

You are already sending an anonymous person your name, phone number and email address. Withrampant identity theft going on, no good reason exists to send everyone your complete address as well. If someone wants to hire you, they can get that information when you fill out the application. Additionally, some recruiters might dismiss you if they feel you live to far away to be able to reliably make the commute every day.

4.    Objective section

Drop the objective section. You are applying for a new job, so the objective is to get a new job and the recruiter knows this. Use this space on the resume for either a brief summary or to further flush out your job descriptions.

5.    Childish E-mail address

Follow your name at the top of the resume you list your contact information. If your email address is childish, it does not reflect well on you. I recommend you use some combination of your name in order to maintain a professional appearance. I also suggest you set up a free Gmail account that you only use for job searches.

6.    “References Upon Request”

This is an outdated and tired line. Employers know that if you want the job you will provide references if they would like them. Also, your friends and colleagues will not appreciate you sending out their name and phone number to random people. But be prepared to deliver those references at the interview; type out a list to provide to a hiring manager if they request them.

7.    Outdated or Assumed Skills

Say you just graduated college and your only job was as a customer service representative.  It is a waste of space to list ‘Customer Service’ as a skill. It is assumed based on your job title that you are skilled in customer service. Instead, explain a benefitthe employer received from your customer service skills.

8.    Irrelevant Awards/Accomplishments

You earned our varsity letter during our freshman year of high school and that’s great! Unfortunately fifteen years later it is not important to the position you just applied for. Remove this waste of space and further explain how your most recent experiences can benefit the company you have applied with.  If you graduated college, do not even bother listing your high school.

9.    Personal Social Media Accounts

The only social media that belongs on a resume is your LinkedIn profile. Employers are going to run a background check on you and likely review your social media accounts. Do you really want to be giving a nameless recruiter all of your personal information right up front? While some select caveats exist for this rule, the vast majority of applicants should only be listing their LinkedIn profile.

10.  Anything that does not directly relate to the job you are applying for

This is a follow up to point seven. A resume should be targeted to the position you are applying for. Leave any unnecessary information off the resume. A recruiter is reviewing hundreds of resumes.  Deliver the information that is most critical to the position you are applying for. Everything else can be discussed in the interview.