According to Forbes, you have about 6 seconds to grab a recruiter’s attention. In order to get a thorough read, and any chance of a callback, your resume has to follow some basic rules.
These are the things that will instantly turn a recruiter off to your resume.
#1 White Space: Don’t have enough information to fill a single page? That’s an instant red flag for recruiters. A half-page resume is not good enough, however, a multi-page resume will never get their full attention. Stick to one complete page or, as Zety puts it: “It should be as short as possible and still convey your worth.”
#2 Photographs: Photographs and headshots are not warranted on a resume. This rule only has two exceptions: (1) you’re applying for a job in Europe or (2) you are applying for an acting role. You should also leave out any intricate designs or symbols that distract from the actual information.
#3 Unprofessional Details: An unprofessional email address can instantly turn a recruiter off. Consider creating an email with your name, even if you just use it for job applications. In case you get that callback, you should also consider your phone’s voicemail message and if it’s conducive to your job search efforts.
#4 Filler Text: Your resume should be completely unique and original. Don’t ever use a “resume generator” or the generic text of a template for your resume. Similarly, you should focus on high-quality writing. For example, you should never use the same verb twice to start a phrase. Don’t use a bunch of verbs in a row either. Add numbers to quantify your accomplishments and enable recruiters to instantly perceive your value at a glance.
#5 Irrelevant Information: As Monster advises, there is no reason to recall the first position you ever worked as a gas station attendant or supermarket clerk unless these things directly impact your ability to take the position at hand. In other words, only include the most relevant education, skills, and experience.
#6 Outdated Information: When was the last time you really opened Excel? More importantly, does that basic skill even matter in this position? While considering what’s pertinent on your resume, you should also look to remove things like “Microsoft Word” from your skills section as that’s considered pretty standard these days and it could be easily considered as low-quality filler.
#7 Elaborate Design: You can make the most of a quick skim by keeping things minimalistic and simplistic. Don’t use elaborate fonts or colors, they will only take away from the professionalism of your resume. Along these same lines, don’t use company-specific jargon. Add a general job title that applies across your industry.
#8 “Extra” Sections: You don’t need to discuss your goals and you don’t need to include a summary section either. You also don’t need to list every class you have ever taken or every certification you have ever received. Also, forego listing your references (they don’t belong on your resume) or typing out your exact address. Your city and state are all you need to put in the header.
