As I review incoming resumes for my clients prior to starting a new project or run across resumes posted online, I find some cardinal rule breakers, like:
“Happily married, with two beautiful children.” As much as that sounds nice, you set off red flags for HR directors with that kind of information. Putting your birthdate, marital status, number of children, disabilities, and other information on your resume are just going to set you up for rejection.
Why? Just as employers are not supposed to discriminate against you in the hiring process, they don’t want to be unduly influenced by seeing information that could bias them. Apart from that, a resume is a selling tool and you want to refine your resume to sell you in the best possible way.
So if you can’t put that personal information on the resume, what should you put there?
Previously, I talked about the need for keywords in a resume, at the same time, you are constantly on the outlook for accomplishments. You know the famous real estate phrase: “location, location, location!”, right? My clients often hear me say the resume industry phrase, “accomplishment, accomplishment, accomplishment!”
Here’s some accomplishment-based bullet points from a client seeking a Food & Beverage Director or Executive Chef position:
Showcasing both his skills and his willingness to be part of community involvement projects:
- Selected as Top Chef by patron vote at “A Black Bib Event”, the March of Dimes Signature Chefs auction, featuring six area chefs.
Quantifying his accomplishments:
- Developed and bottled family recipe pizza sauce for outsourcing to Italian specialty stores in Wisconsin and Illinois, resulting in new revenue of $500,000+ in the first year.
Featuring an unusual marketing venture:
- Developed funeral brunch service, resulting in new revenue stream of 6 groups per weeks, ranging from 25 to 300 patrons.
Don’t Let Your Resume Fall in the Black Hole! Gasp! Think about your resume as a marketing tool to sell you, the product! Does that help you rethink what you need to focus on to create your resume?
Talk to me, I talk back!
Very nice advice for resumes! I will add accomplishments to mine
So stay away from “I love free-falling from kayak, mountain bike or pair of skis?” Kidding… Great post, Julie. Love what’s happening here
Joe Jacobi´s last blog ..My 3 Words For 2010
Great! Keep reading and come back to visit.
Actually, mentioning sports as in Olympic Gold Medal Winner; Network Television commentator for Beijing Olympic Games would probably look pretty good on someone’s resume.