Tips for Removing Irrelevant Information from Your CV

#DearPhDs, recruiters spend only 1-2 minutes on your resume.  (some research suggests they spend a mere 6 seconds!) 👉 When you have 10 minutes worth of content in there, recruiters will grab some 1-2 minutes from it. These may not be your best 1-2 minutes. 👉 When you have 1-2 minutes worth of content in there, recruiters will grab those EXACT 1-2 minutes. So give them your best 1-2 minutes! When it comes to industry resumes, LESS is MORE! I tried this with my own job search. Resume on the left: 598 words. 54 applications. 0 interviews. Resume on the right: 243 words. 10 applications. 4 interviews. (and got my current role) 👇 Here are 9 ways to embrace 'LESS is MORE' in your resume: 1. Start with a strong non-generic summary to set the tone for the rest of your resume. 2. Avoid overly technical jargon and complex language to make your accomplishments easily understandable. 3. Eliminate information that doesn't directly contribute to your qualifications for the job. 4. Keep your contact information minimal: your name, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile. 5. Limit personal information such as your full address, hobbies, marital status, and headshot. 6. Tailor your resume for each job by including keywords directly from the job posting. 7. Use concise bullet points to help recruiters scan and digest information quickly. 8. Focus on achievements instead of duties and use quantifiable metrics to showcase your impact. 9. Use action verbs to convey a sense of proactivity and accomplishment as well as save space. P.S. Which one of these would you like to learn more about? #resumetips #phdtoindustry #phdcareers #altac

Kunal Kushwaha recently shared a post on what to avoid putting on your tech resume. He mentioned you shouldn't include hobbies, phone number & address, course completion certificates, and high school info. 💡 I want to add some additional tips: 🚫Avoid Mentioning Blog Posts: Skip adding personal blog posts on platforms like Medium, Dev, or Hashnode unless they were paid assignments by reputable companies. You can discuss your interest in technical content during interviews, but don't dedicate resume space to it. ✅ Simplify Skills Listing: Include only job-relevant skills on your resume without overdesigning a skills bar. Keep it straightforward. 🔒 Protect Personal Information: Don't include your date of birth, photo, or any details that could reveal your age or personal information. This safeguards your privacy and prevents potential bias. 🌟 Highlight Achievements: Instead of listing generic job responsibilities, emphasize specific accomplishments and contributions in previous roles. Use the STAR method (situation, task, action, result). 📢Avoid Jargon Overload: Steer clear of excessive technical jargon and buzzwords to ensure clarity and accessibility for all readers. 📇Omit References: Eliminate the "References available upon request" phrase. Employers will request references separately if needed. Keep your tech resume concise, relevant, and free from unnecessary clutter to make a lasting impression on potential employers. 👍📄✨

Points NOT to Include on Your Resume In the quest for the perfect resume, it's not just about what you include but also what you choose to leave out. I have been doing resume reviews for some time. I have seen how much irrelevant information people add to their resumes. Here are some points to consider excluding to ensure your resume is impactful and professional: 1. Full Address: Your privacy matters. Opt for just mentioning your city and state (e.g., New York, NY) to safeguard your exact location. 2. Objective Statement: Your resume already shouts, "I want this job!" Skip redundant statements and let your experiences speak for themselves. 3. Reference list or "References Upon Request": Spare the space. If someone needs references, they'll ask. Your resume real estate is precious. 4. Exact Dates of Employment: Streamline your timeline. Month and year (e.g., June 2022 - August 2023) suffice without cluttering your resume. 5. Salary and Notice Period: Keep your financial discussions for interviews. Revealing this prematurely might limit your potential earning opportunities. 6. Personal Info: Age and date of birth have no place on your resume. Focus on showcasing your skills and experiences instead. 7. "Cliché" Terms: Phrases like "hard worker," "team player," or "responsible for" lack impact. Be specific about your achievements to stand out. Crafting a resume is an art; each word should contribute meaningfully. By omitting unnecessary details, you create space for what truly matters: your skills, experiences, and accomplishments. Let your achievements shine, and make every word count! #ResumeTips #CareerAdvice #ProfessionalDevelopment

Did you know that Recruiters spend an average of just 7.4 seconds reviewing a resume? That's according to data from a study conducted by Ladders, Inc. Your resume is your professional story and with only about 7 seconds on average to get the attention of a Recruiter, your story needs to be clear. We often talk about what we should put on our resume, but what do we actually need to keep off our resumes to make it more relevant? Here are 5 things you should leave off your resume: 1. Irrelevant Work Experience: ↳ Does it align with the job you’re applying for? ↳ Does it showcase your transferable skills?  ↳ If not, it’s just taking up valuable space.  ↳ Prioritize relevance over quantity. 2. Outdated Skills or Certifications: ↳ Are your skills current and in demand?  ↳ Do your certifications reflect industry standards? ↳ Keep your resume fresh and forward-thinking.  ↳ Focus on what sets you apart in today’s market. 3. Personal Details Unrelated to the Job: ↳ Does it contribute to your professional narrative?  ↳ Is it necessary for the role?  ↳ Leave out anything that doesn’t serve your professional brand.  ↳ Be strategic and intentional with personal information. 4. Generic Objectives or Summaries: ↳ Are they tailored to the position? ↳ Do they speak to your unique value?  ↳ Craft a narrative that resonates with your desired role.  ↳ Make it personal, make it count. 5. Clichés and Buzzwords:  ↳ Are they meaningful or just filler?  ↳ Do they truly describe your abilities?  ↳ Replace vague terms with concrete achievements.  ↳ Be authentic and specific in showcasing your talents. When crafting your resume, remember that brevity and relevance are key. By omitting these five elements you can ensure that your resume is concise, focused, and tailored to the position you're seeking. Your resume is your story – make every word count.

Job seekers, I love you, but STOP SELF-REJECTING. All day long I talk with people who don't apply for jobs because they don't check off everything on the list. They say to me, "I can do this job, I know I can, but I don't have the degree, or the number of years of experience, or [insert excuse here]..." To which I say, if you know you can do the job, APPLY. Even if you don't check every box in the job description. The key: be specific about how your past skills transfer to your new job. You need to communicate, "𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺/𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁/𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲, 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽, 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗜'𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁." You must speak to their problems/wants/needs, make it clear you understand them and you know how to solve it. Then provide examples to back it up. • Customize your resume for the job using the keywords from the job description. 𝘖𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘣𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘫𝘰𝘣 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳. (Remove whatever isn't relevant to the job you're applying for.) • Explain in your cover letter: "Though my background might differ from your traditional candidates, 𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 [𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺/𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁/𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱], 𝗜'𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘄..." Then list bullet point examples about how you have done this job in the past. Hiring managers and recruiters are very busy. Make it simple and easy for them to understand how you can help. Connect the dots for them, bang them over the head with it: "𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺/𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁/𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱, 𝗜'𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗼 𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼𝗼." I'm rooting for you. 👊 #jobseekers #jobhunt #resume #OpentoWork

After a long week of reviewing 100s of resumes/profiles (groundbreaking, I know), some trends really started to stand out. What's funny is that even though i've reviewed thousands of resumes and profiles at this point, is that the themes always stay the same. So instead of what to focus on, I wanted to share some observations that experienced professionals can stop spending their time and energy on when it comes to resumes. 1) Including your GPA. You're experienced, it doesn't matter. If a company asks for it and you're not a new grad that's a flag. 2) Fancy formats. Boring is better. I'd take a boring, concise PDF document over a Canva artistic document every day of the week. The easier for a human and an ATS (key word and) to absorb the better. 3) Wasting space. Have you ever had to scroll through a webpage to find a recipe getting lost in unneeded backstory? It's annoying. Every item on your resume should support fit for the role. If it doesn't remove it. Capture interest fast. 4) Excluding explicit experience. Recruiters can't read minds. What's obvious to you could easily be missed. Make sure your information is understandable to external audiences. Connect the dots on why you are a fit. 5) Capturing all of your experience, rather than relevant experience. Resumes highlight your relevant experience and fit for the role. It should get you an interview not tell a life story. 6) It's all responsibilities. Companies care about results. Your resume should show this. Ask yourself 'so what?' about your bullets. Assisted customers? So what? Improved customer satisfaction by 50%? So what? Customers = $$$ 7) Including soft skills. These come out during interviews. Even if it is on a resume, it doesn't verify anything. No one would describe themselves as having 'poor time management'. Reflect soft skills during interviews. 8) Lengthy objective statements. Unless you are shifting careers or want to summarize unique fit quickly (one-two sentences) save the space. Recruiters know why a sales rep applied for a sales opening. We don't need an objective. 9) Spray and pray. Iterate over time. Quality > Quanitity. Different companies will value different experiences differently. Make small tweaks and improve over time as you learn. Relevancy is key. Applying for jobs is a grind, but don't make it harder than it needs to be. There's a lot you can be doing, but sometimes less is more. #resumetips #jobsearch #hiring