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Resumes are the trickiest bits of writing that the average person is likely to have to deal with in their lifetime.
Objective statements are outdated and pointless. Unless the employer specifically asks for one there is no need to include one.
Tweet ThisLuckily it doesn’t require stellar computer skills or a writing degree to catch your target company’s attention. Here are a few great resume tips to help you make a great impression so that you’ll get that job interview and the chance to present your skills in greater depth.
Suggested Reading:30 DIY Resume Hacks – Tips to Fast-Track Your Job Search Results: A Get-It-Done
Photo by James L.W on Unsplash
1. Don’t Write a Novel
The length of
“You need to always be looking to grow, to push your experience, and make sure that
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2. Only List Related Experience
Don’t list any work experience or accomplishments that don’t relate to the job that you are applying for. If you have diverse experience, consider having multiple resumes (see How Many Resumes Do You Have?). Having gaps in your work history will most likely require an explanation during the interview, but
3. Don’t make an Objective Statement
Objective statements are outdated and pointless. Unless the employer specifically asks for one there is no need to include one. They tend to be pedantic, and largely meaningless, and they take up precious real estate on your single page of space that you need to use to fill with all of your relevant skills and qualifications. This might be a bit of an unusual resume tip since some employers are quite attached to their opening statements, but they rarely contribute anything to your chances at an interview.
If you're looking for help in reviewing and updating your resume, we've created a list of our resume review and resume writing partners. Many will provide a free review of your resume.
4. Don’t use Graphics or Color
Flashy graphics, highlighted phrases, sentences, or clip art are all not appropriate for
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As far as resume tips go, the most important overarching goal is that the whole document needs to look clean, simple, and easily readable. The reader will need to be able to scan over it in a few seconds and have a reasonable idea of who you are, what you’ve done, and why you’re applying.
5. Customize
There are a huge number of resume templates out there, and chances are that you’re using one of them or a sample resume of some sort if you’re reading this. Don’t feel the need to fill in every bit of information that a template asks for if you don’t think that it’s relevant to the application. Also, if there is something you’d like to mention that doesn’t fit in the proffered template, don’t hesitate to reformat it to suit your needs and reflect your accomplishments as well as possible. These tools exist to assist you, not to constrain you.
If you're looking for help in reviewing and updating your resume, we've created a list of our resume review and resume writing partners. Many will provide a free review of your resume.
