Being a job candidate these days is tough, but one way to make your application stand out is by ensuring your resume is in its best state.
However, this may be easier said than done.
It can be difficult to know how to sell yourself to a company that has hundreds - if not thousands - of other applicants.
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One of the most important aspects of the recruitment process is perfecting your resume because it's often the first thing recruitment managers see - and many have their ideas on how to on improve your chances with your resume.
But there’s one specific detail that could lead to an immediate rejection — and it may be something you’ve previously been told to include.
“If I see a picture, that’s going in the ‘no’ pile,” says Stacie Haller, chief career advisor at Resume Builder.
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She has worked in the recruitment process for over 30 years and she told CNBC why including a headshot is now something to avoid.
She says that including a picture may unintentionally invite ageism or snap judgements based on appearance, and it also suggests ‘that person is out of touch with how we do things today’.
As it turns out, recruitment managers avoid anything that feels outdated as they also avoid details that could bring bias to the hiring process.
How to improve your resume
You also should avoid including an ‘objective’ on your resume or CV, Haller advises. Instead, you should use the valuable space to list your qualifications for the job you’re applying for.
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Do not include your street address, as this could lead to discrimination if there are socioeconomic differences, she adds. Your home address might also be considered to be quite far from the office, and someone who lives closer could be prioritized.
If you have an AOL email address, ditch it now. Haller suggests signing up for a Gmail account instead.
Put the education section higher up if you’re a recent graduate, and once you have more job experience, put this at the top instead and pair the job experience details alongside a list of everything you achieved at each job.
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Keep a separate list of all the skills you gained and any certifications - and try to keep your resume to one A4-sized page.
Once you're invited to have an interview, there are things to avoid to ensure you're in a great position to get the role
According to Tessa White, a career coach with over 20 years of experience as a HR professional, as well as being the founder of The Job Doctor, you need to be ‘crystal clear on their value proposition.’
This is the first thing she does when she works with her own clients.
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White explained that selling yourself can lead to the number one mistake you can make in an interview.
She shared that thinking your value proposition is weighed by the tasks you’ve done before in other roles that can be transferred to this job, is wrong.
This is because it can limit your negotiation power as ‘your leverage is in your outcomes’.
Gregory Robinson