5 Signs Your Resumé is Passé

From GovCentral | by Tania Khadder

The workplace is not what it was five years ago. Neither is the job hunt.

The most successful candidates are those who are ready and willing
to adapt to a changing landscape. But it doesn't matter how ready you
are for the modern workplace if your resumé's straight out of 1994.


And sometimes, it's the most minute details that make all the difference.



Does your resumé speak to the modern hiring manager? Or does it need a serious makeover?


Your resumé might be passé if...



#1: You've forced it to fit onto one page


You've reduced your font size to eight, eliminated margins altogether
and left out key information about yourself, all to conform to that
age-old "one page resumé" rule. Big mistake. After all, would a recent
college grad really need the same amount of resumé real estate as
someone who's been in the workforce for 20 years? Of course not.

Don't get me wrong: Your resumé should be concise. Recruiters are
busy people - they don't have time or the patience for long-winded
career chronologies. But if your experience warrants two pages, by all
means, don't limit yourself to one.



#2: You list an objective

Of course you're
looking to gain more experience in the field/sector/type of company to
which you're applying. Your interest in the job implies that. Do you really need to say it at the very top of your resumé?

At this point in the selection process, hiring managers are far more
interested in what you can do for them than what they can do for you.

If you want to explain why you're applying for the job, say so in
your cover letter. Resumé space is far too valuable to waste on
information that is both redundant and inconsequential.

#3: You write "References available upon request" at the bottom


Once again, a waste of valuable space. Do you really need to say so?
The hiring manager can only assume that if they ask you for references,
you'll provide them. What, are you going to say "no?"

Instead, prepare a list of references with contact details and your
relationship to each. Hold onto it until you're further along in the
selection process - you don't want to annoy your references with
repeated contact by employers who are less than serious about you. Most
respectable employers wouldn't bother to contact a reference until they
are fully ready to make you an offer.


#4: You attach it to your email as a Word document


While you're unlikely to be penalized for emailing a Word document, there's a lot to be said for converting it to a PDF before sending.

A PDF document just looks neater. And even
if you've gone crazy with the formatting, it will show up correctly on
the hiring manager's computer no matter what their settings, Word
version, or font inventory. Besides, do you really want those squiggly
red lines showing up under your former company's name?

Stick to PDF. It's the only surefire way to display your resumé exactly as you intended it.



#5: You list every job you've ever had in chronological order


In the olden days, the person with the most experience got the job.

Nowadays, the person who's most talented, has the most relevant
skill set, and has proven to be most valuable to his or her former
employers gets the job.

If you want to be that person, make sure your resumé says so. Don't
list jobs that are irrelevant to the one you're applying for just to
fill up space. Instead, expand on the jobs that are relevant. Focus on
measurable achievements in each role as opposed to a play-by-play of
your daily responsibilities.