How Detailed Should a Resume Be?
It’s tempting to boast about all of your skills and achievements in a resume–but having too many details on your resume can hurt your chances of landing that job interview because it’ll make the document seem too busy and lose the attention of your recruiter.
The best resumes are informative yet concise, and the same rule should be followed as you write an accompanying email when sending a resume. They should only include all the important and relevant details and be rid of any unnecessary content and fluff. A top resume writing service like The Jub can help you craft the most effective resume to land your dream job!
Can a Resume Be Too Detailed?
A resume can have too much unnecessary info. Nowadays, many hiring managers are in the habit of skimming resumes. If they’re not instantly engaged, they quickly move on to another document. And a resume with too much going on, either in format or content, will be quickly dismissed.
What to Include in Your Resume
When you’re paring down your resume, it’s important to keep and highlight the following information:
Contact Details
At a minimum, include your name, contact number, and email address. Depending on the job you’re applying for, you may also add links to your portfolio or personal website. These details should be put at the top of your resume since this is their primary point of contact for you.
Summary
The summary is a short way to describe yourself on a resume. It should briefly explain who you are and why you’re qualified, typically in just one or two sentences. Refer to the job description to ensure that your summary is relevant to what the employer is looking for.
Education
Your education is important for jobs that require certain degrees, certificates, or levels of experience. This section should include the name of your school, your field of study, and any academic distinctions. Consider only listing those relevant to your career experience. For example, college graduates don’t need to list their high schools, while post-graduate degree holders must prioritize this phase of their education here.
Professional History
The employment history or professional experience section should list all of your previous relevant work. It should include the name of your past employers, your job titles and years of employment, and a few details of your strongest accomplishments. Make sure to lead with strong action verbs and use numbers to exhibit your success.
Skills, Awards, and Certifications
List all the skills you have that could be relevant to your job–looking at the job description can help you shortlist what to write. In this section, put down all your awards and certifications, as well, to boost your qualifications.
What Not to Include in Your Resume
Including unnecessary information in your resume prevents recruiters from seeing your true qualifications. Here are some things that you should remove from your resume:
Photo
Unless you’re applying for a job that requires a headshot, take it off your resume. Your recruiter doesn’t need to know what you look like to decide whether you qualify for the job or not.
Objective
Resumes of the past always included an objective, but nowadays, it’s deemed unnecessary. Hiring managers know that you’re looking for a job; you don’t have to say so on your resume.
Personal Details
You don’t have to include personal details like your nationality, spiritual beliefs, or social security number. It’s even illegal for recruiters to ask for this information.
References
Most recruiters understand that you’ll provide references when they ask for them, so there’s no need to list them down on your resume.
How Do I Know if My Resume Is Good Enough?
Your resume can help you get a job interview if it’s formatted well and contains all the relevant information. It has to have a clean design, and include details that will effectively show the value you can provide a prospective employer—without being loaded with content. To know more about how to write the best resume, check out The Jub’s career resources today!
Author: Becky is a contributor for theJub. She’s a writing and talent acquisition specialist who loves to apply her skills through creative writing and editing.
