Is Your Resume Overstuffed? Here’s How to Trim the Fat.
When it comes to building a resume, it’s tempting to throw in everything but the kitchen sink. You want to show recruiters you’re experienced, skilled, and the perfect person for the job. But here's a secret: sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do is hit the "delete" key.
A cluttered resume can overwhelm a busy recruiter, burying your most impressive achievements under a mountain of irrelevant information. A great resume isn't about length; it's about impact. By strategically removing certain items, you can create a cleaner, more powerful document that grabs attention for all the right reasons.
Let's look at five things you can probably cut from your resume today to make it instantly better.
1. Your Entire Life Story (aka Irrelevant Work Experience)
That job you had at a cafe ten years ago was great for teaching you customer service, but is it relevant to the senior marketing role you’re applying for now? Probably not. Your resume should be a targeted marketing document, not an autobiography.
2. Outdated Fonts and Clunky Formatting
You wouldn't wear an outfit from the 90s to a job interview, so why is your resume stuck in the past? Fonts like Times New Roman and Comic Sans can make your resume look dated.
3. Salary Expectations and Personal Information
This is a big one. Including your current or expected salary on your resume can put you at a disadvantage before you even get to the negotiation stage.
4. Vague Buzzwords and Corporate Jargon
Are you a "results-oriented team player" with a "synergistic approach to problem-solving"? These phrases are so overused that they've become meaningless.
5. Typos and Grammatical Errors
This might seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how many resumes are sent out with glaring errors. A typo can be a deal-breaker for many recruiters, as it suggests a lack of attention to detail.
By trimming these five things, you'll create a resume that is lean, professional, and focused on what truly matters: your value as a candidate.
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