7 résumé mistakes you need to fix right now
Hiring managers receive dozens — sometimes hundreds — of résumés for any given opening.
They don`t have the time or resources to review each one closely, so they spend approximately six seconds on their initial "fit/no fit" decision.
You may be perfect for the job, but if your résumé has just one typo, if it`s formatted poorly, or you use the wrong font, it could easily end up in the "no" pile.
Vivian Giang contributed to an earlier version of this article.
1. An objective.
If you applied, it`s already obvious you want the job.
The exception: If you`re in a unique situation, such as changing industries completely, it may be useful to include a brief summary
2. Irrelevant work experiences.
Yes, you might have been the "king of making milkshakes" at the restaurant you worked for in high school. But unless you are planning on redeeming that title, it is time to get rid of all that clutter.
As Alyssa Gelbard, career expert and founder of career-consulting firm Résumé Strategists, points out, however, past work experience that might not appear to be directly relevant to the job at hand might show another dimension, depth, ability, or skill that actually is relevant or applicable.
Only include this experience if it really showcases additional skills that can translate to the position you`re applying for.
3. Personal stuff.
Don`t include your marital status, religious preference, or social security number.
This might have been the standard in the past, but all of this information is now illegal for your employer to ask from you; so there`s no need to include it.
4. Your hobbies.
Nobody cares.
If it`s not relevant to the job you`re applying for, it`s a waste of space and a waste of the company`s time.
5. Your age.
If you don`t want to be discriminated against for a position because of your age, it`s time to remove your graduation date, says Catherine Jewell, author of "New Résumé, New Career."
Another surprising way your resume could give away your age: double spaces after a period.
6. Too much text.
When you use a .5 inch margin and eight-point font in an effort to get everything to fit on one page, this is an "epic fail," says J.T. O`Donnell, a career and workplace expert, founder of career-advice site Careerealism.com, and author of "Careerealism: The Smart Approach to a Satisfying Career."
She recommends lots of white space and no more than a .8 margin.
7. Time off.
If you took time off to travel or raise a family, Gelbard doesn`t recommend including that information on your résumé. "In some countries, it is acceptable to include this information, especially travel, but it is not appropriate to include that in the body of a résumé in the US."
