While you want your resume to provide a clear reflection of who you are and what you can do, there are some details that you can do without – at least on your resume. You can always provide additional information in an interview should the employer ask. But when you’re trying to keep your resume concise and make a strong impact, you want to use available space as effectively as possible. Here are some details that generally shouldn’t make the cut:
High School: It’s typically a given that you’ve graduated from high school or have your GED, and when it comes to your career, it doesn’t hold much weight. Employers are more interested in seeing what you’ve done since then and how you’ve furthered your education and training. Along the same lines, you can also remove your GPA, especially if you graduated several years ago.
References: References take up space that could be better utilized. Keep your references on a separate sheet of paper and be prepared to provide them should an employer ask. Including references is a few steps ahead when you first need to land an interview. You can also cut the line about “references available upon request” as it is a given; no need to waste space.
Basic Skills: Use your core competencies and job experience to highlight your strengths and what sets you apart. Skip the basics that everyone should be proficient in such as Microsoft Office, answering the phone, or using standard office equipment. Focus on skills more relevant to the type of job you are applying for. You can use the job posting to guide the way.
Months with Years: When listing how long you have been in a role, keep things simple and just use the year. This is generally what employers are looking for anyway. They’re not looking to nit-pick and see exactly when you started and ended. They can find this out during reference and background checks. Also, leaving off months helps your job experience to flow more smoothly and eliminate minor gaps.
Repeated Information: If you did the same thing in more than one job, you don’t need to repeat it every time. Focus more on what you accomplished and how you used these skills to achieve results. Each bullet point should be different.
Hobbies or Personal Information: Keep your resume professional and focused on your career. You don’t want to disclose information that could lead to unintentional discrimination or simply adds no real value to your resume. There are rare instances when hobbies are acceptable if they are directly tied to the job you are applying for or you have earned notable recognition that supports your candidacy. But for many people, hobbies are better left off of their resume.
Take the time to really evaluate your resume and decide what is essential information and what is not. Each statement should bring insight and value to who you are and what you can do. Clean up the appearance and format of your resume by eliminating unnecessary details. If you are unsure what you should include and what you should cut, contact Chic Resumes and take advantage of our professional resume writing services. We’ll help you get your resume in top shape. Call (803) 831-7444 or email resumewriting@grammarchic.net to get started.
Amanda E. Clark founded Grammar Chic in 2008. She is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University and holds degrees in Journalism, Political Science, and English. She launched Grammar Chic after freelancing for several years while simultaneously leading marketing and advertising initiatives for several Fortune 500 companies.
