Looking for a job? You might want to fix your resume first.
The competition is tight. After all, out of the 250 applicants attracted by the job opening, only for 4-6 get the call for an interview. What’s worse is that only one of those remaining people will get a job offer.
If you’re falling behind in job interviews, you might need to update your resume. It’s possible that there are certain elements that don’t click with your potential employer.
But what elements should you look at? Which ones to adjust and fix?
Don’t fret, we’ve got a guide for you. Here’s a quick dive into a few warning signs indicating it’s time to update your resume:
When to Update Your Resume
While you’re searching for a job, you need to ensure you come off as the best and freshest applicant. Remember, a job market is a dynamic place, meaning it will constantly change. What might be a simple requirement half a decade ago can become a showstopper today.
Here are some of the signs that it’s time to update your resume and give it the makeover it needs:
1. The Title Is Resume and Has Unnecessary Information
No matter how fancy you spell the word résumé, it won’t do you any favors. Remember, recruiters and the people at HR will look at hundreds of resumes per day. If you put that simple word as the first thing they see, you will never stand out.
In some cases, putting this title makes them annoyed. It’s inconvenient because they might need to change the title by themselves. That’s why it’s important to make the title your name, even when you’re submitting it online.
Another mistake is to include personal details like your age, weight, and legal marital status. Recruiters don’t need these details and adding them in simply wastes good space. Make sure to strike them out before you make a bad impression.
2. It Only Has One Page
A lot of people think that a one-page resume is enough to give all the information. It’s true that you should make your resume as concise as possible. But handing in a single-page one will make it look like you’re missing the rest.
The general rule is that the longer your career track record is, the longer the resume becomes. Go ahead and fill it out with your most significant accomplishments. It doesn’t matter if it lands at two pages at most—as long as it’s relevant.
3. You Have a Photo
A lot of people still have this mindset that resumes need photos. It changed since most HR people often have this negative outlook that you’re using your looks to land that job. That’s why photos will most often do more harm than good to you as an applicant.
But it’s important to remember that there are exceptions to this rule. If you’re trying to get a job as a TV personality, model, and other entertainment industries, you’re required to give a picture. Take note, the hiring company will tell you when to put a photo—by default, it isn’t needed.
4. No Social Media Information
At the very least, have your phone number and email address on your resume. But if you want to showcase how tech savvy you are, make it a point to include your public LinkedIn account. If you have other professional networking accounts, make sure to put those in as well.
Your Facebook and Twitter profiles aren’t needed. In fact, only include these details if your employers are friendly. If you’re blogging, put in a URL, as long as it’s an updated professional blog.
5. You Listed ALL Your Jobs
It’s important to remember that having longer experience doesn’t guarantee a job anymore. In this economy, individuals with the most relevant set of skills will get hired. That’s why you need to ensure that the job experience you’re listing is relevant to the job you’re applying for.
If you really want to list all your accomplishments, group them all together under a single header. You can use “Various Jobs” for it and list the titles only. That way, you save space and it won’t be obstructive to the HR people.
6. You Still List Down Your Objectives
It’s obvious to everyone that you’re looking to further your knowledge and experience in your chosen career path. That’s why it’s inappropriate for you to write what you want to do as your objectives. Instead, what you should write are the things you can do for the betterment of the company.
That’s when you need to do some research. Look at your company’s goals and vision and mission. Come up with ways on how you can contribute to it and list it down on your objectives.
With that, you have better chances of getting an interview. If you really want to list down your reasons for wanting a job, use the cover letter. It’s the best place for that kind of information.
7. References Available
There’s no need to write this in your resume since it only wastes important space. It’s implied when applying for a job. If you want to showcase your references, make another document that lists these people as well as their titles and your relationship.
Once your potential employer asks for it, hand that document over. That might be the tipping point since you might be head-to-head with another candidate. Also, it’s worth remembering that companies usually won’t check references until the end of their selection process.
If you really need a professional-looking resume, you might need a good resume writer. Here is a post that tackles resume writing services reviews. Read that and learn which service works best with you.
Update Your Resume Today!
Your resume is your most powerful tool when trying to get a job. That’s why it’s important to adapt it to whatever company you’re trying to apply for.
It shouldn’t be generic—it should evolve as required. Update your resume as often as you can!
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