TeamThe job-hunting process can be a daunting task for anyone, especially when so many factors are riding on something so simple as a resume. Let’s take a look at what you should keep or leave out of your resume to ensure that you will get called in for a job interview.
What you should keep on your resume?
There are a few essential items that every resume must have, such as your contact details, education, work history, skills and certificates. No resume can work without this information, and no employer will reach out to you if they do not know your profile basics. So, be concise, straightforward, and display your background in a solid, detailed and extensive manner.
Now, there are a few things that you can include to make you more desirable to a company.
- Do not use the generic templates for your resume: find catchy templates with strong colors. , In this day and age, there is nothing more boring than old templates.
- Relevant non-work-related information: you totally should include your hobbies, awards, community activities, if they are relevant to the position you are applying for. You might even strike gold with the interviewer and share a common hobby with him/her.
- A small introductory call-to-action: in the beginning of your resume, you should include a short cover letter with a call-to-action, explaining why you are the perfect fit for your desired job.
- Why are these non-work-related sections important? Well, because that is what differentiates candidates with similar experience. If you are applying for an entry position, these are what will set you apart from the rest of the herd. Stuff like team sports and volunteering are seen as great assets because it shows what you are capable of working in a team and strive for the company’s success.
What you should leave out of your resume?
There is a false sense of security in writing down every single detail about your life and experience in your resume. Too much information is not always the best option, especially nowadays that people’s attention span is extremely short. We want quick and small bits of information.
- Do not leave huge walls of text: Try to be as concise as possible. Do not include irrelevant information or try to stuff your resume just to make it longer. More does not mean better.
- Typos and grammatical errors: Most employers will drop your resume on the spot if they see a typo or severe grammatical errors. A resume is supposed to be a reflection of you, so they should be flawless and typo-free!
- Forget the passive voice: Do not use the passive voice ever throughout your resume. Always use the active voice. Passive voice shows laziness and is outdated. Employers have an eye for these small details.
- Silly or unimportant information: When you send your curriculum to a new company, they do not need to know your mother’s name, right? As we have said before, unnecessary information will damage your chances to score an interview. On that note, it is also recommended that you do not include your age! Yes, this can be tricky, but several employers rule out most people for being too young or too old, without giving them a chance to shine on the interview. If you do not include your age, you might get called in which is 80% of the battle.
Final thoughts
In most cases, your resume is the only thing that can show employers how special and unique you are. If you are not able to showcase that properly, do you really think they will call you in? Unfortunately, no. You are one of many and the only tool you have to outshine them is your resume. After you put the time in perfecting it, you will start to see the calls coming in. Best of luck.
