What not to include on an IT resume
It’s important to remember that although it is an ‘IT resume’ in your brain, in the brain of the HR rep whose charge it is to sort through all the resumes, yours is just another ‘resume’ (IT or otherwise). That said, there are a few generalities to remember…
First, I want you to acknowledge the fact that the initial screener is going to give your resume a 15-second once-over (with a 30-second max). If your resume is too long, there is the legitimate possibility that it will be tossed based on length alone. DO NOT TRY TO FIT IN EVERYTHING YOU HAVE EVER DONE! It is a prevailing mistake. So, if you are applying for an IT job – think about chopping out any experience that was garnered more than ten years ago. (The technology is likely not relevant anymore, anyway – NEVER MENTION EXPERIENCE THAT IS NOT RELEVANT!) Also: Never include your age, marital status, religious affiliation or reasons for leaving your last job in a resume.
Never mention in a resume what you have NOT done or things and experiences that you lack. Take a page out of the book of the worlds’ top marketers. Don’t lie, but find ways to make yourself look bigger and better on paper than you really are. Stress what you can do and what you have done and try to include the results of the work you have put in for your past employers.
And lastly, remember that large companies may feed resumes through a keyword recognition program--so be sure to mention everything that is relevant by name, and if possible, also include variations of the key phrase as well.
- Share this answer
- Permalink
Hi Jericho,
Generally speaking, unless it’s relevant to a specific job you’re applying for, details over 15 years old or so are not of great value.
If you don’t feel comfortable removing prior job experience from your resume, just include the job title, company name, and date employed. This approach still shows that you have significant experience, but thins out the size of your resume and emphasizes your more current work.
Also, regarding the hardware, software, application languages, and operating systems you have experience in, only include those that are relevant to today’s world. For example, I was quite expert in the Digital DEC 10 operating system in 1980. This would have no value on my current resume.
Lastly, if your prior (very old) experience was as a programmer and your more recent experience (last 15 years or so) has been as a manager or project leader, emphasis your leadership and/or project management positions and provide less detail on now less relevant historical programming experience.
Good luck,
Eric
- Share this answer
- Permalink
Here are 25 thinks you should NEVER put on your resume.
http://www.hrworld.com/features/25-things-not-to-put-on-resume-121807/
- Share this answer
- Permalink
Its better to know what you should include on your profile
1. Education
2. Experience - including interns & trainings
3. certifications
4. accolades, achievements, awards etc...
dont forget to put your workshops, this is very important...
Sandeep Seeram
- Share this answer
- Permalink
Related Questions
I read about the CEO of Vizibility advocating for the inclusion of QR codes on your resume. In his view, it will show that you are a...
As I have mentioned above, I have done CCNA, but because it expires every 3 years and also you must spend your entire...
Back in March, the CEO of Expensify wrote a ...
Our workforce has a widely varied level of technical expertise. I'd like for everyone to at least have the same basic level of...
I've heard often, "you're only as good as your last job." You may have held a high-ranking position three or four years ago, but if you'...
Ask a question
White Papers & Webcasts
White Paper
IDC Vendor Spotlight
White Paper
vRanger Helps Cut Replication Time by Almost 70%
White Paper
Forrester Report: The ROI of Cloud Apps
White Paper
The Cloud: Reinventing Enterprise Collaboration
See more White Papers | Webcasts
You might want to think beyond just a resume. Many companies now want to see what sort of social media profiles you have, and may even want a video interview of you. Here's an interesting article from the WSJ about firms that don't want resumes.
No More Résumés, Say Some Firms
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405297020375040457717303199181489...
"Companies are increasingly relying on social networks such as LinkedIn, video profiles and online quizzes to gauge candidates' suitability for a job. While most still request a résumé as part of the application package, some are bypassing the staid requirement altogether.
A résumé doesn't provide much depth about a candidate, says Christina Cacioppo, an associate at Union Square Ventures who blogs about the hiring process on the company's website and was herself hired after she compiled a profile comprising her personal blog, Twitter feed, LinkedIn profile, and links to social-media sites Delicious and Dopplr, which showed places where she had traveled."