What should I delete from my resume?
Hi Deb:
Many of your blog posts focus on what job seekers should include on their resumes and LinkedIn profiles, and those are great sources of information. I was wondering, though, if you could share with us your perspective on what should NOT be included on a resume or LinkedIn. Can you give us some advice on this so that we can trim our job search materials of irrelevant and outdated information?
Best regards,
Michael
Hi Michael:
Thanks for your question, and I’m glad that you asked! I do spend a lot of time telling clients and followers about what they should be doing. Maybe I’m not expending enough effort advising them on what not to do. That changes today. Here are my Top Five Things that you should get rid of immediately—from LinkedIn, your resume, and any other career documents.
An objective statement. Your resume is not about you. That’s right; it has your name on top, but it has very little to do with you. What your resume is really about is the problems you solve for a hiring manager. An objective statement focuses on YOU and what you want, not on the hiring manger’s needs. Therefore, it is a waste of time and real estate. Use a summary section in which you provide an overview of your skills and how they can help solve problems quickly instead.
References or “references furnished upon request.” Assume that the hiring manager is aware that you will furnish references upon request. Also, realize that much reference checking goes on behind the scenes and that a hiring manager is likely to reach out to your connections to check your references without you ever knowing.
Your personal interests. I see so many resumes that include a “personal interests” section. Most of them are completely predictable: “I enjoy dining out, travel, and spending time with my family.” Wow. Doesn’t that make you unique? Get rid of statements such as these, as they do exactly nothing to promote your brand, nor do they convey the value you bring to an employer.
“Proficient in MS Office Suite.” Congratulations. I assume you also know how to use a pen and paper.
Using your current title as your LinkedIn headline. The headline section on LinkedIn is premium real estate. This is where you advertise yourself and your capabilities. Why do you want to give free publicity to your employer?
Your snail-mail address. No one is going to be sitting down at a rolltop desk with a fountain pen to respond to your resume. Besides, in an era of rampant identity theft, do you want to tell the world where you live? The only address anyone needs is your email address.