3 Things your Resume Might be Better Without

3 Things Your Resume Might be Better Without

You hear a lot about what to include in your resume, but there are some things your resume might be better off without. There are also a handful of things I know you should avoid. See my video, Five Things to Avoid in a Resume , for some additional things to consider avoiding in your resume. Let’s jump into three things your resume might be better off without.

Number one: Objective. Now, this might seem like an interesting thing that your resume might be better off without, but I have seen so many meaningless objectives in the 20,000+ resumes that I have reviewed in the last twelve years. If your objective does not communicate the value that you bring to the table and how that resonates specifically with the job or the company that you are applying for, it is a waste of space on your resume. Look at your objective and if it is something generic like “looking to further my career and learn new skills,” that doesn’t do anything for a company. So many people are going to say something like that, and it doesn’t really mean anything. So, make sure if you are going to include an objective that it is meaningful, it is specific, it speaks to your experience and how that relates to the opportunity you are applying for. 

Number two: Hobbies. This has been a growing trend for several years; people are listing off their special interests or hobbies, things they do on the weekends, etc. and to be honest I do not love it. Your resume represents your professional persona and what you have accomplished in your career. Most companies don’t really care that much about what you are doing on the weekend. Don’t get me wrong, they will probably ask you about yourself and interests throughout the interview process, but it really has no place on your resume. You have less than a couple of minutes to capture a hiring manager’s attention with your resume, so don’t waste the time or the space talking about what you do outside of work. Now, the one caveat that I will add to this is if you are applying for a specific industry, say you are an avid cyclist and you are applying for a company that is in the cycling space, then it might be appropriate to say that you are an active cyclist on your resume. But if you can’t find a direct correlation with your hobbies and the company or the job that you are applying for, it doesn’t belong on your resume. That is a great check point to use to determine whether something should be on your resume or not. Does this communicate the value that I bring to the table? Or does it resonate with the company or the position I am applying for? If it does not, get it off your resume. 

Number three: Fancy Graphics. This is another thing that I am seeing a lot more of and I do work with a lot of people with a technology background or creative marketing background. Specifically in the creative marketing space I am seeing more and more of this, and in those circumstances, if you are a graphic designer, it might be appropriate to have some graphics and different colors on your resume. But if you are not and you are an accountant for example, or you are a software Engineer, you really don’t need to have different colors and fancy graphics on your resume. All that is going to do is distract from the actual meat of your resume and the things that you have accomplished. Again the value of what you bring to the table needs to be front and center. You’ve got such little time to capture a hiring manager’s attention, don’t waste it with distracting them with these crazy colors and different pictures on your resume. Keep it to the point, make sure it is clear, and really communicates what you bring to the table and why that company needs to talk to you. 

To quickly recap on three things your resume might be better off without. Number one, Objective. Make sure it is thoughtful and adds value to your resume if you decide to include it. If not, get it off your resume. Number two: your hobbies and special interests. Don’t waste the space on your resume, again unless it speaks directly to the industry, the company or the job that you are applying for. And lastly number three: unless you are a graphic designer or in the creative space, do not put fancy graphics and colors on your resume. Keep it professional, keep it concise and keep it to the point to get you that opportunity or land you that interview.

For more Resume Tips, grab my free guide, 10 Tactical Tips for Writing an Effective Resume here: https://mailchi.mp/liveyourbestworklife.com/resume-tips

5 Things to Avoid in a Resume:

5 Things to Avoid in a Resume