By Mark Vallario, Vice President of Staffing Operations

Your resume is often your first representation to potential employers. In today’s competitive environment, make sure your resume clearly shows your value and wastes no time on irrelevant information. Below are recommendations for how to modernize your resume and keep employers interested.

Objective

By now it has become clear that the objective of your resume is to land your next job. The top of your resume is prime real estate, especially when employers are sifting through stacks of candidates. It’s not important to explain why you are looking for a job; focus instead on why you should be hired by this company.

Alternative: Summary

In place of the Objective, provide employers a brief and concise summary of your professional experience. This should address the main points of why you are qualified for the job and what experience is relevant to the job at hand. Be sure to use keywords from the job description.

Contact Information

Street Address, Marital Status, Hobbies

The practice of including this personal information, such as a street address, marital status, hobbies, is outdated. Other than a phone number and e-mail address, contact information is not necessary, and hobbies that do not relate to the skills requested by the job poster are irrelevant.

Alternative: Social media, blog, portfolio

Employers recognize that a candidate’s value can surpass what is written on a resume. Including a link to an online portfolio or professional networking platform can give great insight into your skills and talents and show how you interact with others in your industry. Be sure your content is up-to-date and reflects who you are and how you contribute.

Education

If you’re a recent graduate with little job experience, you may be inclined to fill space on your resume with extensive information about your education. The truth is, many employers are not as focused on what you did in school, but rather how you’ve used your education to add value professionally. Listing out the courses you’ve taken, the projects you’ve done may seem like a great way to brag, but it may be another waste of space

Alternative: Course work that relates to the job

Focus on what is expected based on the job description. If you’ve completed courses that directly relate to the responsibilities, include two or three. The employer will most likely be looking for those keywords and will move your resume to the top of the stack. Keep education experience short. It will be expected that you have little work experience, so be sure to show how you added value through the jobs you’ve held.