10 Old-School Resume Rules That Dont Apply Today

10 Old-School Resume Rules That Dont Apply Today10 Old School Resume Rules10 Old-School Resume Rules That Dont Apply TodayLast week I wrote a guest blog post talking about how older job seekers might need to think like 13-year-olds to succeed in job interviews today. But over the past couple days, I started thinking about all the ways we should NOT repeat behaviors from times gone by.Specifically, we need to ditch at least 10 of the old-school resume and cover letter rules that were popular back in the 80s, 90s and even early 2000s.Heres a fun little retrospective of 10 outdated resume and/or cover letter guidelines from past decades, and the new rules that have replaced them1. Old SchoolNever abbreviate anything on a resume or cover letterNew RuleAbbreviating is fine, as long as its understandableThis is the age of texting and Twitter, where everything is abbreviated, condensed, and minimized. Its fine to write St. instead of Street. However, acronyms should still be spelled out t he first time theyre mentioned. Example Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)2. Old SchoolKeep your resume and cover letters very formal New RuleKeep them professional, but notlage stuffyEverything is more casual these days, from our work clothing to our career documents. Dont cross the line into unprofessional, but keep in mind that readability, clarity, brevity, and authenticity are much more important than outdated propriety and formality.3. Old SchoolCreate one perfect resume and one cover letter that covers all basesNew RuleCreate a master resume and cover letter, but customize them for each jobYou dont need a major rewrite for every employer just make sure your keywords match the employers job description, and maybe adjust the order of your skills listing for emphasis. Make it easy for the reader to see the parallels between your qualifications and their needs.4. Old SchoolStart the cover letter with Dear Sir or Madam, Enclosed please find New RuleUse the hiring managers name, an d skip the blah-blah languageIf the hiring persons names not listed in the job description, do some research on the Web. Find the name and use it, if at all possible. Then, give your first sentence some meaning and impact. Also avoid these other cover letter screw-ups.5. Old SchoolOn the resume, list every single thing youve ever done for workNew RuleLeave out any details that arent relevant to your desired positionWrite your resume and cover letter as a marketing pitch to sell the value youll bring to your next employer. Dont make it a memorial to what you did every day at your old jobs.6. Old SchoolList your job responsibilities for each job under a heading such as Duties Included New RuleSkip space-eaters like that theyre already understoodYoull waste a lot of resume real estate if you write Duties Included on a separate line after every job. Just summarize your main accomplishments and qualifications in bullet points, and start each with an action verb in past tense (e.g., Led, Managed, Streamlined, etc.)7. Old SchoolOn your resume, indicate your reason for leaving each jobNew RulePrepare an answer in your mind, but dont volunteer itThe resume and cover letter are not the place for this, especially if the reason for leaving was involuntary. However, do plan and practice a response for your interviews, and make it a brief, factual statement. (No whining.)8. Old SchoolInclude your age and your hobbies in your resume or cover letterNew RuleStay focused on your qualifications for the jobIx-nay on the age, and unless your hobbies are directly related to your desired position, leave them out, too. For example, lets say you play in a co-ed basketball league. Its relevant if you want to be a high school athletic director, but not if youre seeking a violinist position in the symphony.9. Old SchoolIf youre married, say so on the resume (also, children how many? how old?) New RuleI repeat stay focused on your qualifications for the jobThe more irrelevant personal de tail you provide, the more the hiring managers personal biases can come into play. For instance, in their minds, they might think Newly married? = Might need time off for family leave soon Children?= Probably has daycare concerns.10. Old SchoolAt the end of the resume, say References Available Upon RequestNew RuleLeave it off, they know youll provide them if askedThis is another archaic waste of space. When youre a job seeker, it literally goes without saying that youll provide the prospective employer with whatever reasonable materials they request.