In my six years of recruiting experience, I have placed candidates at major companies like Google, Facebook and Microsoft. But I didn't always know what a good resume looked like.
In 2013, after struggling to find work after college, I decided to hire a resume writer. It didn't turn out as planned: $650 later, I had a six-page resume for less than two years of experience.
The turning point came when I walked into a local sports station with my new resume in hand, and the receptionist bluntly asked me: "Would you want to read a six-page resume on top of everything else you had to do?"
That night, I went home and reworked everything myself. It was so consistent in landing me interviews that my friends asked me to write their resumes. When they all got jobs, my consulting service, Jupiter HR, was born.
One of the most common questions I get asked by clients is what I never want to see on a resume. Here's what I tell them:
These are a waste of valuable resume real estate and usually contain information recruiters would find reading other parts of your resume or your cover letter.
Recruiters and hiring managers tend to skim or speed-read resumes. This means that the first half of your resume has a much bigger role in making a first impression than your second half, and you want your most important and impressive qualifications up top.
Instead of including a personal summary, use the top space to jump right into your experience or a list of your skills and certifications.
There's a false perception among job seekers that Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) auto-reject resumes without relevant keywords. As a result, some people awkwardly pack their resume with words from the job description.
But that's not the reality. An ATS is used to integrate with other company internal systems and keep applications and reports organized. It's the humans who do the rejecting. So only include keywords from the job description when they have true purpose and align with your experience.
It's easy to go overboard and put too much detail into each role you've held. But it's not necessary to include everything. In the tech world, for example, anything you did more than three years ago is considered outdated.
Focus more on your last one or two major positions and how the skills you used there will make you a great fit for the role. This may mean the more recent jobs on your resume have more bullet points under them than the older ones, and that's perfectly fine.
You want someone's first impression of you to be of your skills not your looks or your personal style. Avoid bias by leaving out your headshot or any graphics you designed.
Even a basic graph or line chart can work against you. You never know how someone will read a graphic representation of your skills. You may give someone the impression that you're more or less competent with a particular skill than you actually are.
Instead, write out your accomplishments in a list form and demonstrate how you've used them in your experience section.
If you're applying to a creative role, there are other ways to show off your skills. Ninety-nine percent of resumes are viewed on a computer, so use that to your advantage. Link to your portfolio or blog in your header near your name and contact information.
Although I see it most often with first-time job seekers, even career veterans make the mistake of adding irrelevant positions to their resume just to prove that they've been working.
But your interviewers will verify your experience during the background check. If you have years of experience, there's no need to list every job you've ever had. This only clogs up precious space.
Your resume should demonstrate you're the perfect candidate for the specific job you're applying to. So only include experiences that relate back to that job. The best way to make your resume impactful is to contextualize and support your achievements through numbers and percentages.
Numbers allow you to paint a before and after narrative, clearly showcasing your positive impact on your working environment. Maybe you increased sales by 50% or increased email clickthrough rates by 500%. Either way, you made a real, measurable, positive impact.
JermaineL. Murray is a career coach and founder of JupiterHR. He specializes in helping companies diversify their hiring pipelines with talent from marginalized communities. Follow him on Twitter @JermaineJupiter.
Don't miss:
The rest is here:
- Is Google Advertising Revenue 70%, 80%, Or 90% Of Alphabets Total Revenue? - Forbes [Last Updated On: December 30th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 30th, 2019]
- Google My Business Photos Being Added To Google Posts Without Option To Delete - Search Engine Roundtable [Last Updated On: December 30th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 30th, 2019]
- Even amid the affluence of tech capital in Silicon Valley, local news struggles - CNBC [Last Updated On: December 30th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 30th, 2019]
- Where in the world was Santa? It depended on which online tracker you were following - The Boston Globe [Last Updated On: December 30th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 30th, 2019]
- Huawei, Facebook, and Oracle Put Pressure on Google - Market Realist [Last Updated On: December 30th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 30th, 2019]
- Huawei and Google Diverge in Their Treatment of ToTok - Market Realist [Last Updated On: December 30th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 30th, 2019]
- Google Maps: Aftermath of plane crash in Somalia discovered - what happened? - Express [Last Updated On: December 30th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 30th, 2019]
- Why Apple, Google, and other big tech companies create their own fonts - Mashable [Last Updated On: December 30th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 30th, 2019]
- ProBeat: Google only updated Android distribution data once in 2019 - VentureBeat [Last Updated On: December 30th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 30th, 2019]
- 10 things to try with your new Google Nest smart speaker - VentureBeat [Last Updated On: December 30th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 30th, 2019]
- Google workers exposed to chemical that causes birth defects - City A.M. [Last Updated On: December 30th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 30th, 2019]
- The most popular products of 2019, according to Google - TODAY [Last Updated On: December 30th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 30th, 2019]
- Google Chromes five security features that every user should know - Hindustan Times [Last Updated On: December 30th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 30th, 2019]
- Googles YouTube Goes To War With Bitcoin And Crypto [Updated] - Forbes [Last Updated On: December 30th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 30th, 2019]
- Google is poised to make another blitz at CES 2020 - CNET [Last Updated On: December 30th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 30th, 2019]
- These Were The Top Google Searches And Trends Of 2019 - Forbes [Last Updated On: December 30th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 30th, 2019]
- Google Search now lets you add movies and shows to a 'Watchlist' - Engadget [Last Updated On: December 30th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 30th, 2019]
- 31-year-old Google executive says reading this one book has had a huge influence on her career - CNBC [Last Updated On: December 30th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 30th, 2019]
- Obama praises book that slams his White House for its Google relationship - Mashable [Last Updated On: December 30th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 30th, 2019]
- Why Google was the most important brand marketer of the 2010s - Fast Company [Last Updated On: December 30th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 30th, 2019]
- Amazon and Facebook Are the Most 'Evil' Tech Companies, According to Experts. Google Isn't Far Behind - Inc. [Last Updated On: January 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: January 18th, 2020]
- Google Rich Results testing tool now reports on unloadable embedded resources - Search Engine Land [Last Updated On: January 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: January 18th, 2020]
- Google Assistant routines haven't worked on Android Auto for over a year, still no fix in sight (Update: Google acknowledges) - Android Police [Last Updated On: January 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: January 18th, 2020]
- Jussie Smollett is probably toast now that Google is handing his data to the special prosecutor - Washington Examiner [Last Updated On: January 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: January 18th, 2020]
- Americans trust Amazon and Google more than the police or the government - MarketWatch [Last Updated On: January 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: January 18th, 2020]
- Using Google Authenticator? Here's why you should get rid of it - ZDNet [Last Updated On: January 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: January 18th, 2020]
- Googles hidden AR tool will blow your mind - Creative Bloq [Last Updated On: January 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: January 18th, 2020]
- Kids, Want to Win a $30,000 Scholarship and Show Your Art to Billions? Googles Annual Doodle Contest Is Now Open - artnet News [Last Updated On: January 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: January 18th, 2020]
- 1 Reason 2020 Will Be a Big Year for Google and Facebook - The Motley Fool [Last Updated On: January 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: January 18th, 2020]
- Google Health Exec Defends Controversial Partnership With Ascension: Were Super Proud Of It - Forbes [Last Updated On: January 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: January 18th, 2020]
- Labs arrive in Google app to let you experiment with features like pinch-to-zoom - 9to5Google [Last Updated On: January 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: January 18th, 2020]
- Sorry, Alexa and Siri, but only Google Home can do these 5 things - CNET [Last Updated On: January 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: January 18th, 2020]
- Kittle photobombed by The Rock in roster Google search - NBCSports.com [Last Updated On: January 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: January 18th, 2020]
- This Is How Your iPhone Is A Cool New Way To Access Google - Forbes [Last Updated On: January 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: January 18th, 2020]
- Googles Takeover of Fitbit Faces Another Regulatory Hurdle - Motley Fool [Last Updated On: January 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: January 18th, 2020]
- Google Health VP on Ascension partnership: 'The press has made this into something it's not' - Healthcare IT News [Last Updated On: January 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: January 18th, 2020]
- Google Maps keeps a detailed record of everywhere you go here's how to stop it - CNBC [Last Updated On: January 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: January 18th, 2020]
- Will Googles more-efficient Reformer mitigate or accelerate the arms race in AI? - ZDNet [Last Updated On: January 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: January 18th, 2020]
- Rachel Bovard: Congress has a role to play in regulating Google - Home - WSFX [Last Updated On: January 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: January 18th, 2020]
- Why Google added little logos next to search results this week - CNBC [Last Updated On: January 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: January 18th, 2020]
- Report: Google wants to bring the Steam game store to Chrome OS? - Ars Technica [Last Updated On: January 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: January 18th, 2020]
- BT partners with Google to bundle free Stadia with broadband deals in the UK - The Verge [Last Updated On: January 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: January 18th, 2020]
- Google Play [Last Updated On: January 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: January 18th, 2020]
- Google Photos app for Android will soon phase out the hamburger menu - GSMArena.com news - GSMArena.com [Last Updated On: March 5th, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 5th, 2020]
- What Is Google Coral And Do You Need It? - Lifehacker Australia [Last Updated On: March 5th, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 5th, 2020]
- Google and Amazon limit employees travel because of coronavirus fears - The Verge [Last Updated On: March 5th, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 5th, 2020]
- Google, Toyota Tsusho invest in WhereIsMyTransport to map transport in emerging cities - TechCrunch [Last Updated On: March 5th, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 5th, 2020]
- This Is Huaweis Alarming New Surprise For Google: Heres Why You Should Be Concerned - Forbes [Last Updated On: March 5th, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 5th, 2020]
- Google and Microsoft offer free teleconferencing tools to combat coronavirus - TechRadar [Last Updated On: March 5th, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 5th, 2020]
- Google bans on-site job interviews for the foreseeable future due to coronavirus - The Verge [Last Updated On: March 5th, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 5th, 2020]
- AWS to double sales droids as Google, Microsoft's growing clouds threaten to gobble larger slices of Bezos' pie - The Register [Last Updated On: March 5th, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 5th, 2020]
- Google's Exposure To Travel Will Impact Revenue, BofA Says - Benzinga [Last Updated On: March 5th, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 5th, 2020]
- Google Cloud goes after the telco business with Anthos for Telecom and its Global Mobile Edge Cloud - TechCrunch [Last Updated On: March 5th, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 5th, 2020]
- Apple, Microsoft, Google look to move production away from China. That's not going to be easy - CNBC [Last Updated On: March 5th, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 5th, 2020]
- Google will lose its John Legend Google Assistant voice on March 23rd - The Verge [Last Updated On: March 5th, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 5th, 2020]
- Google and Microsoft are giving away enterprise conferencing tools due to coronavirus - The Verge [Last Updated On: March 5th, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 5th, 2020]
- Google Stadia now supports 4K streaming on the web - The Verge [Last Updated On: March 5th, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 5th, 2020]
- Star Engineer Who Crossed Google Is Ordered to Pay $179 Million to Company - The New York Times [Last Updated On: March 5th, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 5th, 2020]
- Why companies like Microsoft and Google are betting big on Africa - CNBC [Last Updated On: March 8th, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 8th, 2020]
- Google Announces A Coronavirus Incentive For G SuiteAnd Other Small Business Tech News - Forbes [Last Updated On: March 8th, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 8th, 2020]
- Microsoft, Google, and Twitter Are Telling Employees to Work From Home Because of Coronavirus. Should You? - Inc. [Last Updated On: March 8th, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 8th, 2020]
- Facebook, Google among those kicking some cash over to Silicon Valley communities affected by coronavirus cancellations - CNBC [Last Updated On: March 8th, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 8th, 2020]
- Google now giving away three months of Stadia access to Chromecast owners - The Verge [Last Updated On: March 8th, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 8th, 2020]
- Google location data turned a random biker into a burglary suspect - The Verge [Last Updated On: March 8th, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 8th, 2020]
- Apple, Google and others partner with Ad Council and US govt to expand coronavirus messaging - The Drum [Last Updated On: March 30th, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 30th, 2020]
- Google Has No Plans To Postpone Killing Third-Party Cookies In Chrome - AdExchanger [Last Updated On: March 30th, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 30th, 2020]
- Why Zoom is winning so much hype over Microsoft and Google - Business Insider [Last Updated On: March 30th, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 30th, 2020]
- Logged On From the Laundry Room: How the C.E.O.s of Google, Pfizer and Slack Work From Home - The New York Times [Last Updated On: March 30th, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 30th, 2020]
- Google cancels its infamous April Fools jokes this year - The Verge [Last Updated On: March 30th, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 30th, 2020]
- Google Tests Audience Buying In ADH, A Big Step From Analytics To Activation - AdExchanger [Last Updated On: March 30th, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 30th, 2020]
- Googles new Pixel Buds could hit spring release date, as they may have just hit the FCC - The Verge [Last Updated On: March 30th, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 30th, 2020]
- Google Removes Infowars Android App From Online Store Over Coronavirus Misinformation - Variety [Last Updated On: March 30th, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 30th, 2020]
- Cruising Through South Central Los Angeles With Google Street View : The Picture Show - NPR [Last Updated On: March 30th, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 30th, 2020]
- Google ups Duo group calling limit from eight to twelve - The Verge [Last Updated On: March 30th, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 30th, 2020]
- Outside China, Android isnt Android without Google - The Verge [Last Updated On: March 30th, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 30th, 2020]
- Google has banned the Infowars Android app over false coronavirus claims - The Verge [Last Updated On: March 30th, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 30th, 2020]
- My top 3 Google Home pet peeves and how to fix them - CNET [Last Updated On: March 30th, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 30th, 2020]
- Google Unveiled a Massive Stimulus Program of Its Own - Inc. [Last Updated On: March 30th, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 30th, 2020]
- Facebook, Google and Twitter Struggle to Handle Novembers Election - The New York Times [Last Updated On: March 30th, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 30th, 2020]
- Test and trace with Apple and Google - TechCrunch [Last Updated On: March 30th, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 30th, 2020]