For a lot of us your resume is your ticket to scoring that interview, but are you holding the right ticket? For years, we’ve been told to follow strict rules about length, formatting, and content. The question is, are some of these rules becoming outdated myths still holding us back? Let’s explore some of the advice we’ve all heard in the past which bears re-evaluating;
1. Myth: Include an Objective or Hobbies
Inserting an “objective” at the top of your resume is often considered outdated. Objectives generally state what you want from the employer, while hiring managers are more interested in what you can offer them. Similarly, listing hobbies can make your resume look unprofessional or juvenile unless those hobbies are directly relevant to the role.
What to Do Instead: Replace objectives with a strong professional summary or value proposition that clearly outlines your expertise and what you bring to the company. As for hobbies, leave them out unless they directly relate to the job you’re applying for, such as coding side projects for a developer position.
2. Myth: Only List Hard Skills
It’s a mistake to focus solely on hard skills like technical proficiencies or certifications. While these are important, employers also look for soft skills and specific achievements that demonstrate how you applied those skills on the job. Simply listing “Project Management” or “Data Analysis” isn’t enough. Expanding on how you used those skills to contribute to projects or teams is more impactful.
A 2024 Resume Genius Hiring Trends Survey of 600 hiring managers, revealed that over 54% of hiring managers believe soft skills are highly important when evaluating candidates. Employers are looking for more than just technical expertise; they want to see how well you work in teams, solve problems, and lead projects.
What to Do Instead: Showcase both hard and soft skills by detailing specific projects you worked on. Highlight your problem-solving abilities, teamwork, and leadership alongside your technical skills. For example, in IT, you might say, “Led a cross-functional team to develop a new CRM system, improving client retention by 15%.”, while a marketing professional might highlight, “Managed a multi-channel campaign that increased customer engagement by 20%.”
3. Myth: Employment Gaps Will Hurt You
Employment gaps are not as damaging as people once believed, and trying to hide them can actually hurt you. Many companies now use background check services that can quickly verify employment histories, so any attempt to obscure gaps can raise red flags.
What to Do Instead: Be honest about employment gaps and use them to your advantage. If you took time off to learn new skills, volunteer, or work on personal projects, include those activities on your resume. Hiring managers are often more concerned about how you used that time productively than the fact that there was a gap.
4. Myth: Social Media Links Don’t Belong on a Resume
In the digital age, showcasing your online presence can actually work in your favor, especially if you have a professional profile that’s well-developed. For example, a strong LinkedIn profile that includes endorsements and recommendations from colleagues and managers can make a strong impression on hiring managers. On the other hand, personal social media accounts like Instagram or Facebook may not be relevant, unless you’re applying for a social media or creative position.
What to Do Instead: Include links to your LinkedIn profile, online portfolios, or personal websites that display your professional work. Just make sure that your profiles are polished and free of any unprofessional content.
5. Myth: Your Resume Should Be One Page
For years, job seekers have been told to keep their resumes to one page. While brevity is important, especially for entry-level candidates, a one-page limit isn’t always ideal. For professionals with several years of experience or those with diverse skills and projects to showcase, a one page resume would not do your career justice. The goal is to present a clear, relevant, concise summary of your skills and achievements—removing key information to fit one page can reduce your chances.
What to Do Instead: Aim for a resume that highlights your accomplishments, skills, and value—whether it’s one page or three. Focus on relevance and clarity. If you have several years of experience or significant achievements to showcase, don’t hesitate to use more space.
6. Myth: Fancy Designs and Graphics Help You Stand Out
Many people believe that adding graphics, colors, and elaborate formatting will make their resume stand out. While this can be true for creative fields like design or marketing, over 70% of large companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to scan resumes, and complex formatting can confuse these systems.
What to Do Instead: Opt for a clean, professional layout that is ATS-friendly. Use bullet points, clear headings, and a simple font to ensure your resume gets through the scanning process. Save fancy designs for your portfolio or website, where they’re more appropriate.