The job market is constantly changing and with it, so are CVs. The stuff recruiters weren’t even thinking of yesterday might become important to their decisions today and conversely, some of the information they were looking at when selecting their candidates previously can fade into irrelevance.
To help job hunters secure their next position, a career strategist who goes online by The Real CV Guru has shared a list of things she believes no longer belong in a CV in 2021.
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Nowadays, everyone in search of a job needs every edge they can get. As the world is trying to beat the pandemic, people are still having a tough time getting interviews, callbacks, and offers. According to Jack Kelly, the CEO, founder, and executive recruiter at one of the oldest and largest global search firms, there are two big issues that companies are preoccupied with—the ability to quickly roll out the vaccine and its efficacy, and how President Joe Biden’s policies and programs impact the economy. Both of these actions will influence the health of the job market, Kelly wrote.
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With the before-mentioned uncertainties, it’s too easy for hiring managers to do nothing. “They’re afraid of making a decision without possessing sufficient knowledge about what will happen next,” Kelly said. “In my experience as a recruiter, it’s been demonstrated that companies hire aggressively when they feel confident about the future. When they lack clarity, they hold off, enact hiring freezes and downsize workers to cut costs—just in case things get worse.”
So when can we expect change? Kelly believes that the government and corporations are waiting for a large percentage of Americans to get vaccinated before the economy can be reopened.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, recognizing the dilemma added that the only way to solve a problem is to own it. “Everybody wear a mask, everybody adhere to the public health measures, get the vaccine out as expeditiously as possible, do everything we can to get the doses available and to get them into people’s arms,” Fauci said.
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After you have a killer CV, some career advisors think you can up your chances at landing a job during a downturn by trying virtual networking. Don’t be afraid to reach out to people in your network who you think might be able to help you find work.
It might also be a good time to consider a career pivot. Think about the skills you have, and how those can apply to jobs in a variety of industries.
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Here’s what people said after they went through the list
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Today I retire. Today is my last day at work. So glad I will probably never again have to worry about this. Good luck, everyone! I really mean it!
Problem with these kinds of tips is that it needs a caveat: read the job call carefully because sometimes some of these things are required. A job call may ask for a cover letter or may ask for all documents to be sent in one file.
and if you don't follow the instructions, your application will end up in the recycle bin. Nobody wants to hire someone who can't follow instructions
Load More Replies...And also.....Why is it all these CV experts tell you these things, but in the real world it seems totally different? I have done CV's for many people and the last 4, including my son got jobs because their CV's "jumped out" at the employer because it was in colour and looked different.
It all again depends on the industry, HR person, and the employer. There is no one size fits all.
Load More Replies...This is completely useless information. A list of "don't do this" without suggestions of what you can do instead isn't teaching, it's nagging.
You don't do anything instead. "don't include a photo of yourself"... just don't do it. You don't need to do anything instead.
Load More Replies...I disagree with leaving out your address. They need to know if you are local or if you would need to relocate for the job, because that may be an added expense they aren't looking for.
If a company is using a robot to look through CV's then I would not want to work for them. The best people for a job are not always those with the matching qualifications. Sometimes you need to go with your gut instinct. In both my careers I was employed not on qualifications but on the employers gut instinct about me. My first was at 17 and I went onto excel in that industry. I then did the same later in life. Was employed of because what I knew and not because of qualifications.
When you post a position, and get 250 responses, you are not going to read each of them individually. It just isn't practical.
Load More Replies...in italy it's so different. our CV needs to have a photo, your address etc. and then you simply write in short what did you do previously, where and when (ex: from 2017 to 2019 i worked as a secretary for *company* *company's address*. my duties were: relationship with clients, organizing appointments *etc*.) end of story.
Yeah, the list only applies to the US. Here in Europe a lot of information is needed on the CV indeed.
Load More Replies...And "bear," not "bare with me"... unless she wants them to take their clothes off.
Load More Replies...Was a photo on a resume ever a good idea? And as for "buzzwords", while things like "hardworker", "punctual", etc may be unnecessary buzzwords, for a technical resume, you absolutely should include buzzwords for every technology you worked with "java", "c++", "python", "ci/cd", etc. Your resume is going to be screened by an HR associate (or increasingly, but an AI system) and unless you have the buzzwords they are looking for, you're likely to be screened out. I like looking through the reject pile in our screening system to see if HR screened out any good candidates, and sometimes I find them.
HR here ~ 30 years' experience spanning 6 different industries. The post is accurate - get to the point, bullet out the important stuff, add the results of what you did, and don't include any personal details unrelated to the job. Really, we in HR are trained to screen out, not in. Make your resume compelling enough to get past us!
When I left the Army after 16 years of service, I found myself looking for a job. It took some time. It was not easy and I had to learn how to do the CV and do the interviews and what to say and what not to say, how to spot red flags. The list goes on. One thing I can say, where the CV did not go through some inane computer software which "read it", I got the interview. The way I see it, if somebody is recruiting, if somebody's job is to find the right person, read the f*****g CVs! Secondly, learn what the actual role is about you are hiring for! I had so many HR people confused when I started asking question, which clearly showed they know f**k all about anything. CV has to be professional, of course and things need to stand out. Job hunting is stressful and HR people, hiring teams are putting all the responsibility on the job seeker. One more thing that really pissed me off. CALL EVEN IF YOU REJECT THE PERSON!!!! I do not care, how many call you to have to make, that is your job!
So this list was compiled by a South African, not an American as some people may have suggested. The term "CV" (curriculum vitae" is used here much more commonly to refer to a more detailed summary of a person's work experience than the one-page resumé common in other parts of the world like the US. As for the spelling errors, she probably speaks at least 5 languages and English is likely not her first language, so please exercise a little compassion and "bear" with her. :)
Many of these points only apply to the US. In Germany, you have to write your personal information on the CV. Most companies still want a photo, too. However, it seems to me that a CV in the US is completely different from one in Germany. Most of the stuff she tells you not to include in your CV would belong in the letter of motivation.
I'm not a recruiter, but I review resumes at my work to find qualified candidates. Chiming in on #6 above, I really hate "infographic" layouts with colorful graphs and charts and iconography. They just feel like filler and rarely convey anything of value. This sounds like a very old-fashioned thing to say, but resumes are (still) not the place to play with trendy design gimmicks. Maybe one day, but not yet.
"Please bare with me" LMAO. There's very few vacancies where that would get you an interview . . .
1/2 I asked my husband his opinion. #1 it's just fluff, and if you write something not included in the job it could get you overlooked. #2 just opens you up to bias "age, kids etc". #3 he thinks pics make it stand out a bit, but doesn't feel he is biased, but can see how it could be abused by someone who is, #4 doesn't come across that. #5 buzzwords: philosophically it's probably right, but most companies get resumes that are filtered through a software that looks for key words to "rank" your application. #6 hasn't seen much graphics (maybe because they are filtered out? ) #7 he does like to read cover letters, if browsing your resume sparks his interest. #8 yes yes no block text. Include good details but not in a giant paragraph. #9 yes, don't open yourself to that. #10 he finds them meaningless, you are only going to include people who say nice things, so what's the point? #11 yes #12 HECK YES #13 ok..
2/2 #14 definitely not. You don't want to be dismissed off the top for $$, let discussion start first. #15 yes, keep it looking neat and professional #16 (laughs) can't say I've ever seen that one. (Husband works for a software development company, has done multiple interviews a week for several years for different companies)
Load More Replies...Proofreading what you write such as the CV guru writing "please bare with me"( instead of please bear with me). I'm going to add that majority of recruitment is so poor because employers see recruitment as an unwanted recurring cost rather than as an investment in people( plus if its recurring, failing to ask why they have recurring recruitment issue e.g. employee attrition )
Employers who apply "AI" or automatic scanning systems (ATS) to find their new employees? If they can't be bothered to do a basic human check, you are just a number, and will be treated as such from start to end, and I would not work for such an employer. I am picky about who I spend more than half my time with...
Maybe I'm just a.n.a.l. but seeing someone say 'bare' with me after all that just makes me toss the whole thread in the trash.
I’ve had the same job for 25 years. Do people really put their number of dependents, photos etc on their CV? That is stupid.
Most of the information contained in a traditional resume is actually useless at determining how good of a fit you are, it's more of a marketing statement. CV is curriculum vitae, a list of your credentials, and a summary of your experience and skills.
Load More Replies...A friend did tell me this, she said that some HR people will google and based on your living situation decide what they can offer you
Load More Replies...Disagree with not using your work email address but I guess it depends on the field. I work in a field where short term contracts are the norm so everyone expects you to be job hunting. All a personal email does is make you look currently unemployed.
When I review resumes, I always look at that as a bad sign - it looks like the candidate is unwilling to invest the small effort of setting up a free email address. Plus, what if your contract ends early after you've started sending out resumes and you lose access to that work account?
Load More Replies...Today I retire. Today is my last day at work. So glad I will probably never again have to worry about this. Good luck, everyone! I really mean it!
Problem with these kinds of tips is that it needs a caveat: read the job call carefully because sometimes some of these things are required. A job call may ask for a cover letter or may ask for all documents to be sent in one file.
and if you don't follow the instructions, your application will end up in the recycle bin. Nobody wants to hire someone who can't follow instructions
Load More Replies...And also.....Why is it all these CV experts tell you these things, but in the real world it seems totally different? I have done CV's for many people and the last 4, including my son got jobs because their CV's "jumped out" at the employer because it was in colour and looked different.
It all again depends on the industry, HR person, and the employer. There is no one size fits all.
Load More Replies...This is completely useless information. A list of "don't do this" without suggestions of what you can do instead isn't teaching, it's nagging.
You don't do anything instead. "don't include a photo of yourself"... just don't do it. You don't need to do anything instead.
Load More Replies...I disagree with leaving out your address. They need to know if you are local or if you would need to relocate for the job, because that may be an added expense they aren't looking for.
If a company is using a robot to look through CV's then I would not want to work for them. The best people for a job are not always those with the matching qualifications. Sometimes you need to go with your gut instinct. In both my careers I was employed not on qualifications but on the employers gut instinct about me. My first was at 17 and I went onto excel in that industry. I then did the same later in life. Was employed of because what I knew and not because of qualifications.
When you post a position, and get 250 responses, you are not going to read each of them individually. It just isn't practical.
Load More Replies...in italy it's so different. our CV needs to have a photo, your address etc. and then you simply write in short what did you do previously, where and when (ex: from 2017 to 2019 i worked as a secretary for *company* *company's address*. my duties were: relationship with clients, organizing appointments *etc*.) end of story.
Yeah, the list only applies to the US. Here in Europe a lot of information is needed on the CV indeed.
Load More Replies...And "bear," not "bare with me"... unless she wants them to take their clothes off.
Load More Replies...Was a photo on a resume ever a good idea? And as for "buzzwords", while things like "hardworker", "punctual", etc may be unnecessary buzzwords, for a technical resume, you absolutely should include buzzwords for every technology you worked with "java", "c++", "python", "ci/cd", etc. Your resume is going to be screened by an HR associate (or increasingly, but an AI system) and unless you have the buzzwords they are looking for, you're likely to be screened out. I like looking through the reject pile in our screening system to see if HR screened out any good candidates, and sometimes I find them.
HR here ~ 30 years' experience spanning 6 different industries. The post is accurate - get to the point, bullet out the important stuff, add the results of what you did, and don't include any personal details unrelated to the job. Really, we in HR are trained to screen out, not in. Make your resume compelling enough to get past us!
When I left the Army after 16 years of service, I found myself looking for a job. It took some time. It was not easy and I had to learn how to do the CV and do the interviews and what to say and what not to say, how to spot red flags. The list goes on. One thing I can say, where the CV did not go through some inane computer software which "read it", I got the interview. The way I see it, if somebody is recruiting, if somebody's job is to find the right person, read the f*****g CVs! Secondly, learn what the actual role is about you are hiring for! I had so many HR people confused when I started asking question, which clearly showed they know f**k all about anything. CV has to be professional, of course and things need to stand out. Job hunting is stressful and HR people, hiring teams are putting all the responsibility on the job seeker. One more thing that really pissed me off. CALL EVEN IF YOU REJECT THE PERSON!!!! I do not care, how many call you to have to make, that is your job!
So this list was compiled by a South African, not an American as some people may have suggested. The term "CV" (curriculum vitae" is used here much more commonly to refer to a more detailed summary of a person's work experience than the one-page resumé common in other parts of the world like the US. As for the spelling errors, she probably speaks at least 5 languages and English is likely not her first language, so please exercise a little compassion and "bear" with her. :)
Many of these points only apply to the US. In Germany, you have to write your personal information on the CV. Most companies still want a photo, too. However, it seems to me that a CV in the US is completely different from one in Germany. Most of the stuff she tells you not to include in your CV would belong in the letter of motivation.
I'm not a recruiter, but I review resumes at my work to find qualified candidates. Chiming in on #6 above, I really hate "infographic" layouts with colorful graphs and charts and iconography. They just feel like filler and rarely convey anything of value. This sounds like a very old-fashioned thing to say, but resumes are (still) not the place to play with trendy design gimmicks. Maybe one day, but not yet.
"Please bare with me" LMAO. There's very few vacancies where that would get you an interview . . .
1/2 I asked my husband his opinion. #1 it's just fluff, and if you write something not included in the job it could get you overlooked. #2 just opens you up to bias "age, kids etc". #3 he thinks pics make it stand out a bit, but doesn't feel he is biased, but can see how it could be abused by someone who is, #4 doesn't come across that. #5 buzzwords: philosophically it's probably right, but most companies get resumes that are filtered through a software that looks for key words to "rank" your application. #6 hasn't seen much graphics (maybe because they are filtered out? ) #7 he does like to read cover letters, if browsing your resume sparks his interest. #8 yes yes no block text. Include good details but not in a giant paragraph. #9 yes, don't open yourself to that. #10 he finds them meaningless, you are only going to include people who say nice things, so what's the point? #11 yes #12 HECK YES #13 ok..
2/2 #14 definitely not. You don't want to be dismissed off the top for $$, let discussion start first. #15 yes, keep it looking neat and professional #16 (laughs) can't say I've ever seen that one. (Husband works for a software development company, has done multiple interviews a week for several years for different companies)
Load More Replies...Proofreading what you write such as the CV guru writing "please bare with me"( instead of please bear with me). I'm going to add that majority of recruitment is so poor because employers see recruitment as an unwanted recurring cost rather than as an investment in people( plus if its recurring, failing to ask why they have recurring recruitment issue e.g. employee attrition )
Employers who apply "AI" or automatic scanning systems (ATS) to find their new employees? If they can't be bothered to do a basic human check, you are just a number, and will be treated as such from start to end, and I would not work for such an employer. I am picky about who I spend more than half my time with...
Maybe I'm just a.n.a.l. but seeing someone say 'bare' with me after all that just makes me toss the whole thread in the trash.
I’ve had the same job for 25 years. Do people really put their number of dependents, photos etc on their CV? That is stupid.
Most of the information contained in a traditional resume is actually useless at determining how good of a fit you are, it's more of a marketing statement. CV is curriculum vitae, a list of your credentials, and a summary of your experience and skills.
Load More Replies...A friend did tell me this, she said that some HR people will google and based on your living situation decide what they can offer you
Load More Replies...Disagree with not using your work email address but I guess it depends on the field. I work in a field where short term contracts are the norm so everyone expects you to be job hunting. All a personal email does is make you look currently unemployed.
When I review resumes, I always look at that as a bad sign - it looks like the candidate is unwilling to invest the small effort of setting up a free email address. Plus, what if your contract ends early after you've started sending out resumes and you lose access to that work account?
Load More Replies...
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