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Thursday, November 12, 2009
Better Left Unsaid?
Sometimes, what a resume doesn't say can strengthen a job applicant's hand. Learn what to leave out - and why.
Jobseekers often hear advice to pack their resumes full with impressive details that may swing an employers vote toward "hire." But we often waver when it comes to the other side of things: what to leave off a resume in order to boost your chances for a position.
"There's no law against deleting things from your resume," says Ford Myers, author of "Get the Job You Want, Even When No One's Hiring" (Wiley 2009), "But you have to be careful. Sometimes it can raise more questions than answers."
Be strategic and careful when deciding what to leave off and remember that each individual is different. The first item to omit often sits at the top of your resume - the objective. "It saves a couple of lines and can be stated in your cover letter," Myers says. "This way you don't have to be customizing your resume for every job."
In some cases, employers are looking to hire only local candidates, whether they say so explicitly or not. But job coaches disagree whether removing a non-local mailing address is a good decision to even the playing field.
"There are definitely cases where an employer will not take you seriously unless you live where they are going to be hiring you," Myers says. "For example, if I'm applying at an ad agency in New York and I'm from Iowa, they're going to say, Look kid, call us when you get to Manhattan, we have plenty of other people with New York experience." This preference, however, only exists for some industries. Also with certain positions, such as executive jobs, employers expect to relocate candidates and aren't likely to make decisions based on home address. Myers says leaving off an address completely sends the message you have something to hide. If you are able, he recommends moving to the city in which you are hoping for a job.
Conversely, Brad Karsh, author of "How to Say It On Your Resume" (Prentice Hall Press, 2009) advises that it is acceptable to omit your address so you aren't immediately disqualified for an interview, although the absence might stick out to an employer. If you decide to keep it, make sure to address it somewhere in your cover letter. "You need to address the issue somehow, whether that means intentionally leaving it off or mentioning that you're moving to a new city and are excited to apply for a job within the company," he says. A strong cover letter can tell an employer your genuine interest in a job regardless of the location.
Some small details at the top of the resume are less likely to disqualify a candidate. An out-of-area cell phone number, for instance, is understood by employers since people tend to keep cell phone numbers even after they move several times. These details are also less dispensable than the mailing address. "E-mail is absolutely essential now," Myers says. "You can never leave it off because it's the primary way of communication in the job search. Employers will talk to you eventually, but a lot of things will happen first through e-mail."
The education section should be short and sweet but always present - Karsh warns leaving it off will cause employers to question if you actually graduated. For new graduates, a strong G.P.A. of at least 3.5 can be included, but anything lower should be left off. For those who have been out of school for a few years, also consider leaving off the G.P.A. altogether, as professional experience should speak louder. The college you attended, your major and your graduation date also should be included with education, but Myers advises leaving off the range of years you were in school - more than the standard four may send the wrong message, even if it's for good reason.
Difficult decisions begin to increase when examining the work experience section.
"Sometimes you can leave out certain parts of your education, certain volunteer or charity work, or if you were in the military, but these are all personal decisions," Myers says. "It gets sticky in the work experience section, which is why people need to get a second opinion from a career professional before cutting things out of their resume. Each case is different."
The key, he says, is deciding - while being entirely truthful - what generates the image you want to project and leave the impression you want to leave.
Consider leaving off lists of general skills, such as those that describe you in intangible terms. "It's one thing to say you are hardworking, dependable, strong and have great communication skills, but those are self-described attributes," Karsh says. "Unless you can back those up with strong examples, leave them off."
Also think about removing lists of skills that should be assumed - for instance, basic computer skills like word processing and making spreadsheets. For recent graduates in particular, Karsh says writing that you know Microsoft Word wastes space that could be used for more useful information, like a more in-depth description of an important project you completed. "The only reason you put your computer skills on a resume is if a job description specifically asks for them," he says. Older applicants, however, may still want to include certain computer skills if they might not be assumed. Relevant computer skills not common in all applicants should still be included - for instance, experience with blogging, social media or search engine optimization.
But don't be afraid to evaluate different resume pieces and question whether they need to be there. Says Myers, "The bottom line is omit anything that does not support your career path. If it supports your long-term career goals, then leave it in. Remember, though, that the resume is only one tool. It often takes the use of other tools and networking to secure a job."
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