Redoing your résumé periodically is important — even if you're not actively job-hunting — because it helps you stay clear, competitive, and confident in your evolving professional story.
Here are 10 signs that your resume is outdated and needs a professional makeover:
1. You have the word “Objective” at the top of your resume.
Putting the word “objective” on a resume is outdated. The reason why is simple: Most objectives are vague or generic, and they waste precious space at the top of the resume. Instead, focus on a career-branding statement and show a company why they would want to hire you.
2. Your resume is a one-size-fits-all document.
It used to be acceptable to use the same resume to apply to many different positions. Not anymore.
In today’s job search environment, you need several versions of your resume that are geared toward each type of position that you are applying to.
Yes, this means even a person who is applying to administrative positions should have different resumes for each position he or she applies to; an administrative assistant position within a military nonprofit organization may have different qualifications than an administrative assistant position for a large corporation. Tailor your resume accordingly.
3. Your resume lacks industry keywords.
This is one of the biggest reasons many people do not hear back from potential employers regarding job interviews. If your resume does not include keywords the company is looking for, no matter how qualified you are, your resume may not pass the computerized applicant tracking system and onto a human set of eyes.
4. You do not include quantifiable information in your resume.
In the past, resumes were more about including a list of job responsibilities that you have had. Not anymore!
Since the average position receives at least 100 applicants, you want to make sure you stand out. One of the best ways of doing this is to highlight what you have accomplished by providing quantifiable information, such as numbers and statistics.
5. You are using a Word template for your resume.
Using a resume template from Word may seem like a great idea since it is easy to download, looks pretty and you can just add in all of your information right away.
Save yourself some time and research what makes a good resume layout and then create your own. If you would rather use a resume template to save you time, make sure you use one that is compatible with the new resume technology, like this resume template.
6. You are using a functional format for your resume.
A functional resume organizes your experience by skill sets rather than listing jobs in reverse chronological order. This format might seem like a smart way to highlight your capabilities — especially if your career has gaps or if you're changing industries — but in today’s hiring environment, it works against you.
Most employers use software to scan resumes before a human ever sees them. These systems are designed to match dates of employment with job titles and organizations, calculate your years of relevant experience and compare your background to the job description.
When you use a functional format, all your accomplishments are pulled out of their context — there’s no clear link between what you did, where you did it, and how long you did it for. That makes it much harder for the system to “read” your experience accurately.
7. You list EVERY single position you have ever had – even going back to 1999.
Yes, you should be proud of everything that you have accomplished. But when it comes to writing a resume, only include relevant information. Do not include a laundry list of every job that you have had. Only include relevant information from the past 10 to 15 years for a civilian-sector resume.
8. Your resume is only one page and you have size 8.5 Times New Roman font to make everything fit.
Several years ago, a one-page resume was standard. Unless you are an entry-level candidate, a one-page resume is no longer standard.
Most resumes today are two pages long and start off with a personal branding statement, followed by a list of key skills and then go into your experience, education, job-related training, awards, etc.
Also, make sure your resume is streamlined and easy to read. So don’t go cramming all of your information into size 8.5 font.
9. You list your hobbies and interests on your resume.
Sure, you want to provide a hiring manager with additional information about you, but listing hobbies and interests on your resume is something that you may not want to do anymore. Of course, there are always exceptions to this.
For example, if you are an avid skier and you are applying to a position at a ski resort, then yes, list related hobbies. But it does not make sense to add this type of hobby to a resume that you are using to apply for most other positions.
10. You have the phrase “References Available Upon Request” at the bottom of your resume.
Just like the outdated “Objective” statement, the phrase “References available upon request” no longer belongs on a modern resume. It’s assumed that if an employer needs references, you’ll be ready to provide them — no need to state the obvious. Including this phrase takes up valuable real estate that could be better used to highlight your skills, accomplishments or value to an employer.
Now that you know what you need to do to bring your resume up to today’s resume trends, you are ready to begin your job search. Good luck!
Is your resume updated or outdated? Can your resume make it past the computerized applicant tracking systems?
Amy Schofield is an Academy Certified Resume Writer and has been in the recruiting, career coaching, and resume writing fields for 10+ years. She is the founder of Schofield Strategies, LLC TM, an organization that provides resume development and job search strategies to job seekers of various backgrounds and experience levels from around the world.
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