You have likely seen the Progressive commercials featuring Dr. Rick working with new homeowners who are becoming their parents.
Jobseekers can have a similar problem, especially if they have not been in a job search for a long time.
Many things that were once customary are no longer appropriate. And if you do them, you risk looking uninformed or worse.
This can be most apparent on a resume.
Here are some things your parents may have had on their resume that you shouldn’t have on yours:
Your street address and ZIP code. A potential employer will not likely mail you something until you become an employee. City and state are more than sufficient. Besides, do you really want to give everyone your address?
An objective. Over time, objectives all started sounding the same and became irrelevant. The only objective that matters is the employer’s and whether or not you can help them achieve it.
Your references and their contact information. It’s inappropriate to offer your references before an employer asks for them. It could make you appear overeager or needy. And in this age of scammers and spammers, is it a good idea to put your references’ information out there to be harvested?
The phrase “references available upon request.” Everyone knows they are. It’s a given. Don’t waste precious space.
Previous supervisors and their contact information. Just like your references.
Your college GPA (unless you are a recent graduate). Your future employer wants to know how you have performed recently rather than what you did in college.
Information about high school. If you have a degree, information about high school will seem irrelevant. If you don’t have a degree, information about high school only draws attention to the lack of a degree. Instead, emphasize training and experience relevant to the work you want to do.
Phrases like “responsible for” or “responsibilities included.” In the past, it was easy to think that if someone trusted you with a responsibility, it said something about you, your trustworthiness, etc. But what an employer wants to know is what difference did you make? Instead of giving them responsibilities, give them accomplishments that demonstrate your impact.
Reason for leaving. In our parents’ day, leaving a job likely implied that something went wrong and needed an explanation. Should someone ask why you left, you want to be prepared. But displaying a reason for leaving a job on your resume distracts from the main objective of communicating your value and showcasing your skills.
More than one phone number. You should have one phone number and one email address on your resume. Employers don’t want more ways to contact you. They want one way that will work. Also, don’t risk sending the message that you are so desperate you’re afraid you might miss a call. Keep your contact information streamlined. Your parents had a landline. If you do, don’t tell anyone.
Other things I see on resumes that may have seemed useful at one time but are either unnecessary or inappropriate today include Social Security number (I know, right?), marital status, height and weight, birthdate, gender, salary history, and place of birth.
In the words of Dr. Rick, “It can be painful.”
