By Michael Dinich – Ladders

As we approach the New Year, many are glad to see 2020 in the rearview mirror finally.

It cannot be stated enough how interesting 2020 was, but that also doesn’t mean life doesn’t go on. For many with job losses, financial insecurity, and an unstable economy, tidying up their resume was something they started to take seriously.

However, the dusty resume from a few years ago still might have had some things on it that were less than desirable when it comes to having a resume that stands out.

Just how you want to leave 2020 in the rearview mirror, these things we will cover today regarding your resume are well with leaving behind too.

Today, we will share the things you need to remove from your resume pronto!

1. Paragraphs

While a resume is your platform to show what you have done and can do, writing paragraphs is a no-go.

Recruiters spent a very brief amount of time checking to see if you are the right candidate, so make sure your resume’s format is bulleted and concise enough to quickly read and understand.

Leave out any unnecessary jargon or miscellaneous information.

2. Full Address

Writing your full address on your resume is antiquated, full of privacy concerns in this day and age, and unnecessary to put it quite frankly, which eats at the conciseness of your resume as a whole. Remove it from your resume, and replace it with the city/town where you live.

If employers have any questions regarding your place of residence, feel free to provide that information, but otherwise, don’t mention it.

3. Dates (other than work history)

An unfortunate byproduct of the hiring process often comes in age discrimination that affects a multitude of people across different industries.

While lower age is favored socially for most of the workforce, it doesn’t have to come at your expense.  Therefore, to limit that as a variable, stay away from using dates other than Work History.

This includes, but not limited to:

• Year of graduation
• Certifications/Qualifications

What matters the most is that you have them, not the date on which you earned them. Leave them off when you list the items above on your resume.

4. Your lies!

Most people are indifferent to their capabilities. Poll professors and 80% will say they’re in the top 10% in their field. Resumes are no different, which is why you shouldn’t “Lie” even though you don’t think you are!

Resumes are notoriously known for content that inadvertently “stretches the truth” by people eager to impress and subsequently earn a position. However, your use of a “professionally-sounding” vernacular and concise bulletin does not cover your lack of integrity.

Be prepared to be accountable for what you put down on your resume because it will show up in one way or the other when recruiters or the HR department bring you in for an interview. Lack of integrity is a massive blow to the credibility and will surely enough disqualify you as a candidate if found out.

Take them out, and tell the truth.

5. Format inconsistencies

When your resume has format inconsistencies, it makes it extremely difficult for recruiters to follow along and single out critical information vital for your chances of earning a position. Plus, it’s just unprofessional, enough said. Therefore, make sure you follow these tips below to ensure you’re consistent with your resume’s format.

1. Calibri 11 pt font/Times New Roman 12 pt font
2. 1” inch margins
3. Highlighting IMPORTANT details
4. Bolded Titles/Subtitles
5. Appropriate spacing and indentation

6. Salary information

Including your salary information is a cardinal sin on resumes as it will justify employers to lower the potential salary rate offered to you if offered a position. Think about it, what if you stated that you currently make $75,000 per year and they were planning on offering you $95,000?

Knowing this, the potential new employer might only offer you $80,000, a whole $15,000 short!

Including past or present salary information steer clear of on the front end while in the hiring process, so make sure you don’t include it on your resume.