If you’ve been adding new information to a resume you created years ago, there’s a good chance it’s out of date. Sure it may have worked well for you in 2005, but will it work today? Maybe. Maybe not, depending on how out of date the formatting was on that first draft. Here are a few signs your resume is antiquated.
1. It has Small Caps in the name or sub-headers. This was a fancy font that resume writers used about 10 years ago. But then we learned that Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) turn the letters to garbage characters, turning your well-crafted resume into an illegible mess. Dump the small caps.
2. It has logos, photos, boxes, or graphs. These items can’t be read by an ATS. Plus using logos on a resume could mean trademark infringement and cause additional issues with a former employer.
3. It’s generic, vague, and verbose. Does it contain big fancy words but no one can get the gist of what you do? Clear and concise is the way to go in 2014. If the reader can’t understand what you have to offer in 15 seconds or less, your job search will slow to a crawl.
4. It contains a street address. Years ago, we were told it must have an address so you don’t look homeless. But now with Zillow.com, and google maps, everyone can tell what the front of your house looks like, what you paid for it, when you bought it, and what your annual taxes are. Plus with identify theft being a serious consideration, it’s best to not give away too much personal information should your resume end up in the wrong hands.
5. There are underscores throughout the document. Underlines/Underscores can also cause problems with ATS.
It’s nearly impossible to keep up with all the changes from year-to-year with the job search. Recently I learned that it’s been deemed safe to add cum laude back to a resume where in the past we were told it wouldn’t get past spam filters. Hiring a professional resume writer saves you time and money in your job search. Just like tax preparation, the rules are always changing. We’re here to help.