Just as the job market is constantly changing, your resume should too. But when was the last time you actually looked at your CV? It’s one of the things you easily ignore unless you look for a new job outside your company or angle for a promotion. However, anyone who has gone through the process will tell you it’s best to keep up with the times no matter where you are in your career.
But let’s face it, while looking through your details, building a solid portfolio, or rethinking how you present yourself should be a priority, it can be overwhelming. Thankfully, Erica Rivera, a Chicago-based senior recruiter at Google who goes under the handle @careerdivacoaching on TikTok, is here to lend a helping hand.
She recently went viral for laying out 5 things that make resumes look outdated in 2022. As a recruiting professional with plenty of experience in the field, she’s screened thousands of resumes and knows the most common mistakes people should stop making right now. Scroll down to read her tips in full, and let us know what you think about them below in the comments!
Erica Rivera, a Chicago-based senior recruiter at Google, recently went viral for sharing 5 things that people should stop including in their resumes
Image credits: Tima Miroshnichenko (not the actual photo)
After screening thousands of CVs, Erica explained in her TikTok that these things make yours look outdated in 2022
Image credits: careerdivacoaching
Image credits: careerdivacoaching
Image credits: careerdivacoaching
Watch the full video, which got over 2.9M views, right over here
@careerdivacoaching Resume tips from a Senior Google recruiter! #career #careeradvice #careertiktok #resume #resumetips #job #jobtips ♬ original sound – Erica Rivera
Erica told Bored Panda the inspiration to create this TikTok stemmed from seeing countless LinkedIn posts over the last few months where people discussed their struggles to successfully land interviews and get job offers.
“It made me realize that we have all been on the search at some stage or another in our lives, and it takes courage to come to the table and be vulnerable. It made me realize that as a recruiter, I have the opportunity to share knowledge that I have gained through my career to give job seekers insights into how they can make tweaks in their job search process to land a job,” she added.
When Erica saw the video going viral, all she could say was, “WOW! I feel truly honored that I have been able to share information with people in a way that has created a significant impact.”
The video has caused quite a stir on the platform, with people expressing appreciation, giving criticism, and chiming in with their own tips. It’s safe to say everyone has their own ideas on the matter, as crafting a good resume can be intimidating for even the most experienced professionals. It’s hard to know what the employer expects, so you’re often left guessing — sometimes in the completely opposite direction.
“There are always going to be varying opinions, but I have received so much love from people that have expressed gratitude for the information I have shared out, and this is absolutely amazing,” the recruiter noted. “The positive feedback has been so overwhelming in the best way possible and has inspired me to continue creating a channel for people to find information related to various stages of the job search process.”
Here’s another clip where Erica shared advice on resume gaps and how to address this
@careerdivacoaching Replying to @pickles_6666 advice on resume gaps and how to address this #career #careeradvice #careertiktok #resume #resumetips #careerchange ♬ original sound – Erica Rivera
Later on, Erica expressed gratitude for her followers who find value in her career tips, saying “this is why I do what I do”
@careerdivacoaching Replying to @lindsalfonso This is why I share career tips. We are all trying to make our way out there. #career #careeradvice #careertiktok #tips #recruiting #follow ♬ original sound – Erica Rivera
In the comment section, there was a heated debate about what is and isn’t important to put in a resume, proving that many job seekers often struggle with which key skills, qualifications, and experiences to include. Considering there were more than 11.2 million job openings in July or twice as many as the number of people looking for work, a fresh and relevant resume can give a great chance for recent grads and seasoned experts to successfully snag the job of their dreams.
However, as some commenters pointed out, the standards can be completely different from one industry to another. Plus, the job market is changing. The World Economic Forum predicts that by 2025, 75 million jobs will have disappeared to be replaced by 133 million new ones as AI, robotics, and automation spread. To respond to this giant step in the workplace, you should become well aware of how to best rewrite your resume.
But for many job seekers, this process can be extremely overwhelming. “When I was on the market for a new position, I remember explicitly telling my husband that my search felt like a full-time job! OOF! There are so many nuances to consider when it comes to searching for new roles, writing your resume, preparing for interviews, etc. Quite frankly, it can be daunting,” Erica told us.
“The way I see it, if I can give someone information that will help them and give them the confidence they need to navigate the complexities of the job search, then I am all in! I have always lived by the motto ‘Each one, Teach one,’ and I have made the decision to dedicate my life to helping empower others through this process.”
She also had some advice for job seekers. “The job search is a marathon, not a sprint. I know it can be frustrating and emotions can run high. I just encourage everyone who feels like they have the weight of the world on their shoulders to hang in there!”
“Don’t be afraid to ask questions in a job interview! Actually, please come prepared with questions! This will show employers that you have done your homework and are truly engaged in that particular company for that particular position,” Erica concluded.
People jumped to the comment section to share their opinions, here’s what they had to say
I think it’s nonsense and doesn’t apply to a lot of companies. This is just a google thing. Also, is it a negative if you do include these things? Will she not hire you for putting your full address on there, or all your experience or any of the other things she mentioned? I doubt it…
I'm sorry .. 'holler at your girl'? She lost all illusion of credibility and professionalism for me there ..
I giggled at the bit where she listed "weak action verbs" but provided no follow up for "strong" substitutions. I have never passed over a potential hire because they used words like improved/implemented/increased/generated/managed/streamlined in their résumé. I think that the only part of her advice I agree with is that your résumé formatting shouldn't be a mess.
I thought the 'improved/implemented etc WERE the recommendations for substitutions. Yikes! Good job I'm self employed and near retirement!!
Load More Replies...I don't agree with a lot of these. These seem more like personal/company preferences. Objectives are great to give an idea of what you are capable off and what you're seeking. Nothing wrong with "I did" and "I was responsible". No address?...Idk about that one. Work history can be tailored to your application. I had a recruiter tell me this once and I've followed it ever since, if you have 1-5 years experience do one side of a page, 5-10, two sides and so on.
Not true that you always need to meet the job requirements. If it's a job you really want then you lose nothing by trying, and frequently more requirements are listed than will ever be met by a single individual. Companies love to ask for everything and the kitchen sink, and will be deciding after they get all the resumes what they can or cannot do without.
Also, many job descriptions are written last minute, sometimes by someone who won't be involved in the hiring process. They often turn into wish lists more than anything.
Load More Replies...I can use the objective to weed you out. Keep it so you know I know what you want. She should consult with a hiring manager. It's their rqmts that should be addressed not her need to podcast.
I literally never put my real objective in the objective statement. For example, my last job search my real objective was to get off night shift and out of the hospital because it was driving me insane. During the interview I'm sure they picked up on that, but the resume was carefully crafted nonsense. I don't think I've met anyone who felt differently about it.
Load More Replies...Several times when I've presented a resume that only contains relevant work history interviewers have asked for a complete work history. I know I should include my job as a dishwasher in college, but I haven't so far.
Maybe this recruiter should have used spell check and proper grammer? Before giving advise, make sure you present it professionally.
I think these posts are so short sided. It's like these recruiters don't understand that ideas about a resume differ between type of profession, type of company, country, etc. There is no one size fits all. If you apply for very different functions in very different industries, you probably need multiple resumes. If you apply at a large company that uses recruiters and recruiting software, you should make a resume that will go well with that. If you apply at a small, family owned company that does the hiring themselves, I can imagen making a more personal resume including an objective statement that shows a glimp of who you are as a person. In creative industries you probably can go more creative with the design of your resume and often you need to include a portfolio. A post about all the options and differences per industry/profession and/or type of company would be way more interesting and useful.
You have to remember these places are not hiring for quality they're hiring for quotas. We tested Robin Hood and Google and the only responses if you marked on your transgender. Same resume.
So let's realize again the kind of people standing between your application and your potential future manager. Yes, people truly more interested in how the application is shaped than what is inside because they do not have the level of knowledge to understand it, reason why your app then goes to your potential manager to really decide. Shape your app as you deem it necesary to put a little bit of you in the way you shape it rather following nonsensical guidelines from supposedly good recruiter. You are not a better recruiter when you work at Google, Google is not an HR company, however yes you are a better developper or analyst when you work there because these kind of jobs are the heart of the company.
I wouldn't take advice from a recruiter who doesn't even proof their own stuff! Poor form...
Not in the US anymore, but damn I filled out so many of those stupid, irrelevant questions over the years for my dyslexic man. What pissed me off to no end was having to answer the same question at least twice, having to take "tests" (i.e how many incorrect things do you see in this picture" Just plain BS. References nobody checks, cover letters that suddenly became obsolete... Thank god the US application system is in the back mirror now. The "should, should not" that changed way too often...
Google is a mess of a company trying to justify hiring one talented engineer while rejecting another equally talented engineer. Obviously they can't just say they passed on the black, Hispanic, or female candidates, so they need some other arbitrary system of goal post shifting. "Oh yeah, weak action verbs!" 🙄
98% of engineers are white men, so that may explain that. Their collective chances of being hired are statistically a whole lot higher.
Load More Replies...Glad I don't have to write them anymore. But it's a minefield. One lot wants this, the other wants that. Frankly, you don't need to know what I did at every company I ever worked for. You might want to know what I did in the last 5-10 years perhaps. Also, it differs from country to country.
I disagree with references. I wasn't officially offered my job until they heard back from all of my references. I was even getting emails from the interviewer asking me to urge my references along so that my interview process could close.
Not at all a serious observation, post your things on Tiktok where we can get a laugh.
Lame. This is directed to gen z. Youngsters to stupid to get a job have to mask their abilities they don't have. If they want a job working at your laboring jobs, like amazon and walmart, follow her advice. HR or recruiters who are starting out are idiots and know nothing. The old folks tend to know what's best because they are not tippy toeing around little things. It's always annoying when someone thinks they're giving solid advice then end their lesson with "holler at your girl"
Please tell me no one followed her advice! Typical recruiter mindset. Don’t worry about it we’ll shove you into a job whether you’re qualified or not. Does she not realize most hiring managers are older and look for the older format & information. Everything she said to leave off or change how you’re saying it is everything you will be asked in an interview. Let’s not forget the application the companies make you fill out in full even though they have your resume. You going to know all the dates on a fly considering nothing is on the resume. Unbelievable
Ummm, you didn't proofread (Implmented?) I'm hollaring you out on it! Ugh, I can't even stand the use of hollar here. Why would a professional giving professional advice use it? I'll just file her suggestions in the recycle bin where she should have filed her rough draft.
The company she recruits for invests a lot in its casual image. Probably appropriate for them. I work in healthcare, their recruiters won't be caught on social media in any capacity. They monitor that stuff and can find a way to fire you for it.
Load More Replies...Not taking advice from a person who has never experienced trying to put all of your skills and work history into *buzzwords* for the woke generation who can not spell, let alone string a sentence together without using text speak.
I don't care what she says always include your FULL WORK HISTORY! I worked at Michigan Medicine and got screwed out of thousands of dollars because I did one page resume. NEVER AGAIN!
It depends on your age. The traditional advicecis full work history for the last 10 years. Older can be impossible to check because there maybe no one left there from when you were and is considered irrelevant (that was true even in the 80s). But dont skip jobs you have had in those 10 years and put the true start date for places you have been at longer. You can also put a related work section before an other work section. For teaching they even had us put a "education work" section, a "related work" section - aka summer camps, nannying, regular babysitting, coaching, etc, and an "other work" section for things like retail, cleaning, restaurants - anything not directly with kids. And a hobbies section because being able to run a club was a big bonus for the school as it costs thrm less to use teachers as advisors.
Load More Replies...Its a quick sentence stating what your goal is in applying for the job. For example a teen or college student applying for one of our after school support staff postitions might write, "Gain experience working with children" whereas some applying to be our grant writer might put, "Increase connections between nonprofits and donors while strenghtening my understanding of youth serving organizations."
Load More Replies...In the US on resumes it is (was?) customary to put a sentence at the top of the resume stating what your objective was in applying for the job. Mine is usually some fancy BS about how I want to expand my skills.
Load More Replies...It would be the past tense of strategy. It very much is a word, why wouldn't it be?
Load More Replies...I think it’s nonsense and doesn’t apply to a lot of companies. This is just a google thing. Also, is it a negative if you do include these things? Will she not hire you for putting your full address on there, or all your experience or any of the other things she mentioned? I doubt it…
I'm sorry .. 'holler at your girl'? She lost all illusion of credibility and professionalism for me there ..
I giggled at the bit where she listed "weak action verbs" but provided no follow up for "strong" substitutions. I have never passed over a potential hire because they used words like improved/implemented/increased/generated/managed/streamlined in their résumé. I think that the only part of her advice I agree with is that your résumé formatting shouldn't be a mess.
I thought the 'improved/implemented etc WERE the recommendations for substitutions. Yikes! Good job I'm self employed and near retirement!!
Load More Replies...I don't agree with a lot of these. These seem more like personal/company preferences. Objectives are great to give an idea of what you are capable off and what you're seeking. Nothing wrong with "I did" and "I was responsible". No address?...Idk about that one. Work history can be tailored to your application. I had a recruiter tell me this once and I've followed it ever since, if you have 1-5 years experience do one side of a page, 5-10, two sides and so on.
Not true that you always need to meet the job requirements. If it's a job you really want then you lose nothing by trying, and frequently more requirements are listed than will ever be met by a single individual. Companies love to ask for everything and the kitchen sink, and will be deciding after they get all the resumes what they can or cannot do without.
Also, many job descriptions are written last minute, sometimes by someone who won't be involved in the hiring process. They often turn into wish lists more than anything.
Load More Replies...I can use the objective to weed you out. Keep it so you know I know what you want. She should consult with a hiring manager. It's their rqmts that should be addressed not her need to podcast.
I literally never put my real objective in the objective statement. For example, my last job search my real objective was to get off night shift and out of the hospital because it was driving me insane. During the interview I'm sure they picked up on that, but the resume was carefully crafted nonsense. I don't think I've met anyone who felt differently about it.
Load More Replies...Several times when I've presented a resume that only contains relevant work history interviewers have asked for a complete work history. I know I should include my job as a dishwasher in college, but I haven't so far.
Maybe this recruiter should have used spell check and proper grammer? Before giving advise, make sure you present it professionally.
I think these posts are so short sided. It's like these recruiters don't understand that ideas about a resume differ between type of profession, type of company, country, etc. There is no one size fits all. If you apply for very different functions in very different industries, you probably need multiple resumes. If you apply at a large company that uses recruiters and recruiting software, you should make a resume that will go well with that. If you apply at a small, family owned company that does the hiring themselves, I can imagen making a more personal resume including an objective statement that shows a glimp of who you are as a person. In creative industries you probably can go more creative with the design of your resume and often you need to include a portfolio. A post about all the options and differences per industry/profession and/or type of company would be way more interesting and useful.
You have to remember these places are not hiring for quality they're hiring for quotas. We tested Robin Hood and Google and the only responses if you marked on your transgender. Same resume.
So let's realize again the kind of people standing between your application and your potential future manager. Yes, people truly more interested in how the application is shaped than what is inside because they do not have the level of knowledge to understand it, reason why your app then goes to your potential manager to really decide. Shape your app as you deem it necesary to put a little bit of you in the way you shape it rather following nonsensical guidelines from supposedly good recruiter. You are not a better recruiter when you work at Google, Google is not an HR company, however yes you are a better developper or analyst when you work there because these kind of jobs are the heart of the company.
I wouldn't take advice from a recruiter who doesn't even proof their own stuff! Poor form...
Not in the US anymore, but damn I filled out so many of those stupid, irrelevant questions over the years for my dyslexic man. What pissed me off to no end was having to answer the same question at least twice, having to take "tests" (i.e how many incorrect things do you see in this picture" Just plain BS. References nobody checks, cover letters that suddenly became obsolete... Thank god the US application system is in the back mirror now. The "should, should not" that changed way too often...
Google is a mess of a company trying to justify hiring one talented engineer while rejecting another equally talented engineer. Obviously they can't just say they passed on the black, Hispanic, or female candidates, so they need some other arbitrary system of goal post shifting. "Oh yeah, weak action verbs!" 🙄
98% of engineers are white men, so that may explain that. Their collective chances of being hired are statistically a whole lot higher.
Load More Replies...Glad I don't have to write them anymore. But it's a minefield. One lot wants this, the other wants that. Frankly, you don't need to know what I did at every company I ever worked for. You might want to know what I did in the last 5-10 years perhaps. Also, it differs from country to country.
I disagree with references. I wasn't officially offered my job until they heard back from all of my references. I was even getting emails from the interviewer asking me to urge my references along so that my interview process could close.
Not at all a serious observation, post your things on Tiktok where we can get a laugh.
Lame. This is directed to gen z. Youngsters to stupid to get a job have to mask their abilities they don't have. If they want a job working at your laboring jobs, like amazon and walmart, follow her advice. HR or recruiters who are starting out are idiots and know nothing. The old folks tend to know what's best because they are not tippy toeing around little things. It's always annoying when someone thinks they're giving solid advice then end their lesson with "holler at your girl"
Please tell me no one followed her advice! Typical recruiter mindset. Don’t worry about it we’ll shove you into a job whether you’re qualified or not. Does she not realize most hiring managers are older and look for the older format & information. Everything she said to leave off or change how you’re saying it is everything you will be asked in an interview. Let’s not forget the application the companies make you fill out in full even though they have your resume. You going to know all the dates on a fly considering nothing is on the resume. Unbelievable
Ummm, you didn't proofread (Implmented?) I'm hollaring you out on it! Ugh, I can't even stand the use of hollar here. Why would a professional giving professional advice use it? I'll just file her suggestions in the recycle bin where she should have filed her rough draft.
The company she recruits for invests a lot in its casual image. Probably appropriate for them. I work in healthcare, their recruiters won't be caught on social media in any capacity. They monitor that stuff and can find a way to fire you for it.
Load More Replies...Not taking advice from a person who has never experienced trying to put all of your skills and work history into *buzzwords* for the woke generation who can not spell, let alone string a sentence together without using text speak.
I don't care what she says always include your FULL WORK HISTORY! I worked at Michigan Medicine and got screwed out of thousands of dollars because I did one page resume. NEVER AGAIN!
It depends on your age. The traditional advicecis full work history for the last 10 years. Older can be impossible to check because there maybe no one left there from when you were and is considered irrelevant (that was true even in the 80s). But dont skip jobs you have had in those 10 years and put the true start date for places you have been at longer. You can also put a related work section before an other work section. For teaching they even had us put a "education work" section, a "related work" section - aka summer camps, nannying, regular babysitting, coaching, etc, and an "other work" section for things like retail, cleaning, restaurants - anything not directly with kids. And a hobbies section because being able to run a club was a big bonus for the school as it costs thrm less to use teachers as advisors.
Load More Replies...Its a quick sentence stating what your goal is in applying for the job. For example a teen or college student applying for one of our after school support staff postitions might write, "Gain experience working with children" whereas some applying to be our grant writer might put, "Increase connections between nonprofits and donors while strenghtening my understanding of youth serving organizations."
Load More Replies...In the US on resumes it is (was?) customary to put a sentence at the top of the resume stating what your objective was in applying for the job. Mine is usually some fancy BS about how I want to expand my skills.
Load More Replies...It would be the past tense of strategy. It very much is a word, why wouldn't it be?
Load More Replies...
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