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#NextChat: What Are Resume No-Nos?

August 3, 2020 | Kathy Gurchiek
A typewriter with the word resoune written on it.



​The right resume can open doors to jobs, but the wrong information in a resume—or information presented badly—can slam those doors shut.

A recent Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) #NextChat question asked what resume red flags cause HR professionals and hiring managers to reject job applicants. The following is a compilation of responses from LinkedIn and Twitter:

[SHRM members-only toolkit: Hiring Practices Checklist]  

 
 

—Bob "Professor Bob" Ficken, SHRM-SCP, HR director at Touro University California in Vallejo, on Twitter

Depends on the role, but generally when candidates describe many projects they were leading but say nothing about outcomes of these projects/numbers/key accomplishments, that would be a reddish flag.

—Ksenia Belkina, training and development specialist at New York-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, on LinkedIn 

 
 

—Aamir Shaikh, talent acquisition specialist in Mumbai, India, on Twitter

 

Overly wordy … using too many big words. It's okay to show intelligence through your words but don't lose yourself. Be authentic!

—Sylvia M., HR recruiting and retention specialist and associate resource manager at Kroger in Williamson County, Tenn., on LinkedIn

Several employers, for less than 6 months at each. I understand one or two, but more than that and it looks like a habit.

—Brittany Meadors, HR specialist at D2 Government Solutions in New Bern/Morehead City, N.C., on LinkedIn 

 
 

—Samantha V., in Arlington, Texas, on Twitter 

 
 

—Swati Sinha, HR consultant in India, on Twitter

 
 

—Marcia F. Robinson, Ph.D., SHRM-SCP, HR executive and founder of the Raye Martin Group in the greater Philadelphia area, on Twitter

Recent stories from this series:
#NextChat: Tips for Small Businesses Post-COVID-19
#NextChat: HR Professionals Hope Safety Initiatives, Remote Work Will Continue in Future
#NextChat: Should Employers Monitor Workers' Social Distancing Away from Work?What Are the Signs of Burnout and How Can Supervisors Help Employees?
#NextChat: How Do You Manage Former Peers? 

Related SHRM Online articles:
Proofreading the Final Draft of Your Resume, SHRM Online, June 2020

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