Should You Fire Your Resume?

By Robin Ogden

Twelve Tips to ensure your resume is up-to-date

Resumes are flying around everywhere these days, some are good, others not so good and then there are those that are downright horrible and should just be ‘fired’ – literally, put them in the fireplace and light them up because that is how much use a poorly written resume will be to you.

No kidding.  A poorly written resume is worth less that a limp handshake.  No one, I repeat no one (well perhaps with the exception of you) will pay any attention to a poorly designed/written resume.  But, the tough thing is that it is a bit like the story The Emperors New Clothes – we often don’t see ourselves on paper as others do.  We create our resume and proudly submit it to hundreds of companies or job postings and sit back and think “there, what a good job I did”.

So, how do you know if you should ‘fire’ your resume?  Here are 12 reasons to get out the matches:

• If you have ‘objective’ written at the top of your resume
• If you have ‘no’ accomplishment statements in the top half of your resume
• If you have a ‘silly/cutsie’ email address
• If you have ‘responsible for’ written anywhere on your resume
• If you have written your resume as if it is a job description
• If you have written your resume in first person format
• If you have a photo on your resume
• If you have ‘references available upon request’ noted
• If your resume is longer that two pages
• If you sound like a run-on cliché
• If you have your employers email address or phone number listed
• If you have so much type filling your page that white space is at a premium

 If you have any, even one, of the above listed items then get out the matches and light that resume up.  It’s time to jump into editing and create something that is expected in today’s career marketplace, will engage prospective employers and not only land you the interview, but will guide the interview as well.

If you want more great tips on how to create a winning resume – pop over and grab our ‘free’ ebook and design a resume that ‘works’ for you.  You deserve it!

About the author:  For over 15 years Robin has taken her entrepreneurial spirit and teamed with executives in rapidly growing startup companies in the Silicon Valley, creating HR teams who helped to build incredibly talented organizations and mold strong collaborative, goal aligned cultures.  Additionally, as a Career Consultant for a Fortune 500 career management firm, Robin has coached and trained hundreds of individuals in their quest for new career opportunities.  Her uncanny way of engaging with people at a personal level and her willingness to explore, learn and uncover allow her to tap into her inventive way of thinking to help her clients discover new opportunities and pathways to success.  

Robin is a co-founder of FiredUP Careers, a career coaching company focused on providing career products and services for professionals who wish to stay aligned with their careers, achieve success and truly dig what they do.

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