6 Things to Immediately Delete Off Your Resume

By: Angie Balman

Goal of a resume: present your professional side to hiring managers and highlight why they should hire you.

Here are 6 things you should immediately remove from your resume.

1) An unprofessional e-mail address:
Still using your rebellious or cute e-mail address from high school? Time to change it! E-mail is often your first correspondence with hiring managers. An unprofessional e-mail at the top of your resume is an immediate turn-off. Also, if currently employed, do NOT use your current company e-mail!
2) Bland/Boring verbs/phrases:
For example, do not start every sentence with, “I was responsible for…” these statements are bland. You should be focusing on your achievements! Try looking up resume verbs to help spice it up a bit.
3) Clichés:
Like bland and boring phrases, clichés are overused and only help water down your resume. Highlight the unique skills and experience you bring to the table. Avoid phrases like “team player,” “hard working,” “dedicated,” “detail-oriented,” “people person,” etc.
4) Experience that is too old or irrelevant to the position you’re applying for:
Experience that is more than 15 years old is unnecessary, as is information not pertinent to the job to which you are applying. These waste space that could be used to highlight your recent and relevant experience!
5) Grammar/Spelling errors:
We are all human and spelling and grammar mistakes easily happen. However, your resume is a professional document, and should be free of these errors. Make sure to check and double check your resume. It may be helpful to have a friend or mentor edit it for you too!
6) “References available upon request:”
Yes, the hiring manager knows. This statement is not useful and is just a waste of a line. Use this space for something impactful.

Note: It is important to remember that less is more on your resume. Remove these things weighing down your resume and allow your accomplishments to truly shine!

Transferable Skills
Angie Balman

Starting over in a new career field can be scary, and the prospect of returning to school to learn something new can seem overwhelming. Rest assured, even though you may not have previous experience in the career field you’re looking to enter, you likely have skills that can help you be successful.
If you’re thinking about giving a health care a try, start by identifying skills that would transfer well into this field and thinking about the kind of work you would like to be doing.
Transferable skills Continue reading →

Should I accept?
BY: Angie Balman

You have just been offered a job! How exciting! Maybe you have been unemployed for an extensive period, or this is the first job you have been offered in a field relative to your studies. Regardless of your situation, it is incredibly important that you pause and take a moment to think over your offer before diving in headfirst.

Things to consider before accepting a new job:

1) Compensation: Not just the salary, the whole picture! How are the benefits? Will they meet your needs? Is there flex time or opportunity to work from home? The job market is still shaky, but it is important to consider your compensation and determine that accepting this position will allow you to support your needs.

2) Environment: Culture values and your fit in an organization are much bigger deals than many realize! For example, if the team you are considering joining values working overtime to accomplish goals and meet deadlines, but you wish for a consistent 40-hour week, the likelihood that you will not be satisfied with the job greatly increases. Sacrificing your happiness and integrity for a job is definitely not worth it.

3) Opportunity: How will accepting this job play into your career path? Will you have the opportunity to utilize and grow your skills? Will there be opportunities to advance within the company? If you are someone who values professional development, you will not want to work a dead-end job. Don’t overlook a job’s potential when deciding on an offer.

Remember, you are never obligated to accept a job offer! So, do yourself a favor and look at the offer from many angles so you are able to make the best decision for yourself!

Better Verbs
By: Angie Balman

Better Verbs to Put on Your Resume to Replace “Responsible for” and Other Tired Phrases

The job market competition is stiffer today than ever before! It is important that your resume stand out. Employers, like movie audiences, respond to action and achievements more than traditional, predictable, and generic phrasing. Consider trading in the mundane phrases that are threatening to sabotage your resume with some action-packed verbs!

Examples of tired phrases:

1) “Responsible for” – Could be interpreted as something you had to do. Instead try describing your achievement in more detail. Try substituting this phrase with words like “created,” “produced,” or “designed.”
2) “Assisted/Helped” – A resume is meant to showcase YOU and your great accomplishments. It is in your best interest to pick verbs that will demonstrate your value instead of selling yourself short. “Advocated,” “negotiated”, and “reviewed” are examples of more suitable verb options than the tired and overused “assisted” or “helped.”
3) “Communicated” – Everyone is communicating constantly! It is important that your resume uses detailed terminology that highlights exactly how and what you have communicated previously. Alternatives include, “documented,” “illustrated,” and “publicized.”

Don’t let boring, tired phrases sink your resume! Revive it with some action verbs today!