I constantly come across the same five outdated resume-writing methods, which keep getting passed down from generation to generation of job seekers. It’s time to break the cycle and dispel some common resume-writing myths once and for all.

1. Keep the resume to one page. Whether you have a one-page resume or a 300-page resume, no one is reading it word for word. They are skimming it. Your job isn’t to squeeze as much information as possible onto one page; it’s to prudently edit the content to focus on shining accomplishments and the most relevant content. Sometimes this takes one page; sometimes it takes two pages. Just because something is on one page doesn’t make it easier to read. Aim for a user-friendly design strategy with clean lines and information that is easy to find, and stop getting so caught up in the length of the document


2. Always include an objective. An objective is of no use to a hiring manager. It doesn’t tell them how you will fix their problems or the unique value you can bring to the company. It’s generally all about you and what you want in your next job. And hiring managers don’t really care about what you want. Explain how you can ease their pain, up front at the beginning of the resume, and increase your chances of getting an interview.


3. Never add color to a resume. Years ago, color wasn’t really an option on a resume. Today, color, shading, bold, and other design elements can be incorporated into a resume quickly and easily to make key information stand out. Have you ever read a marketing brochure that used graphic design and other visual elements to improve their messaging? Make no mistake …your resume is a marketing brochure. Why shouldn’t you use similar design techniques to get noticed by hiring managers?


4. Left justify dates of employment. Dates were left justified when people were writing resumes on typewriters and there was really no better way to do it. If your resume looks like it was done on a typewriter, that’s a problem within itself. Beyond that, left justifying dates is a poor use of valuable space on a resume. Right-justify employment dates and save that space for more important information about the value you bring to employers.


5. List references on your resume. This may have made sense if you were conducting a search prior to 1999. But now, no one is going to solely rely on the references you list on a resume. Most hiring managers Google candidates before ever calling them in for an interview. They don’t need to look at the references you supply; they can dig up all kinds of information about you online.

  Barbara Safani
  Career Solvers

This article originally appeared on the AOL Jobs Blog. Career Solvers is a career counseling service in partnership with The Execu|Search Group. Learn more about Career Solvers here!

Amanda, Director of Health Services in the temporary division, talks about some of the steps you can take to make sure your resume is tailored to each job you apply for!

Having difficulty passing the social work licensing exam? Having your social work license is an important factor when it comes to finding a great job.

Here are some important tips on passing your exam:

• Talk to people who already took the test and ask questions so that they can give you a better idea of what to expect

  

• Make sure you understand what areas, skills, and knowledge will be evaluated on the test
• Focus your studying efforts on your weakest areas
• Buy the summary study guides or borrow from a friend who already took the exam
• Set up a study group to maximize exposure to others’ knowledge
• Set up a schedule to organize your studying accordingly
• Take practice tests!

In addition, if you have taken the test before and have not passed, there are some great social workers who offer one-on-one assessments and tutoring services that can target your specific needs and help you improve. In addition, there are some very inexpensive classes that you can sign up for, and remember that your school is a great place to post and view flyers for study groups and extra classes. While it might seem like you are spending too much money preparing for the test, and you might feel frustrated that you have already spent thousands of dollars on your education, keep in mind that you have already started this journey and are almost done! Make one last effort to finish and get your license, you’ll be gaining the rewards for the rest of your career.

Jess Monterrey
Staffing Coordinator – Social Services

As part of our ongoing Resume Writing Advice series, we asked our recruiters for their top tips for perfectly produced resumes. Our recruiters see hundreds of resumes each week and have become experts at eyeing great resumes in a flash. Here are some more important “Don’ts” to consider when penning your resume:

• Don’t use clichéd adjectives to describe your experience. Words like “dynamic” and “self-starting” fall flat on a resume because you are describing yourself, and because it looks like resume filler. Your accomplishments and resume should speak for the mselves. If you are applying through a recruiter, let us describe you! We will describe your personality to an employer so you don’t have to.

• Don’t list hobbies or interests on your resume. This information was once used for interview small talk, but now looks like trivial resume filler.
  

• Don’t lie or exaggerate on your resume. Degrees, computer skills, and language fluency can all be checked, and whatever can’t be checked will be discovered during the first few days on the job. Better to be honest and hold out for a job that suits your skills rather than take on a job for which you are unqualified, or being let go for falsifying information.

• Don’t list references on your resume. Always provide references if asked, or if filling out an application on an interview. But if you list references on a resume, it allows employers to call your references while deciding to bring you in. This way, they can “interview” you without having to meet you, and you have less control over your first impression. Plus, if you are actively looking for a job, your references may get many calls and grow weary of referring you for jobs you may not seriously consider taking. These references will be less likely to pleasantly refer you for that job you really want.
  

• Don’t worry about making your resume one page. As a specialized employee, it’s more important that you cover all of your experience and skills rather than confine your resume to one page. Also, if you are using a recruiter, companies expect that your resume will be thorough.

Alison Kuhns
Director – Healthcare

As part of our ongoing Resume Writing Advice series, we asked our recruiters for their top tips for perfectly produced resumes. Our recruiters see hundreds of resumes each week and have become experts at eyeing great resumes in a flash. Here are some important “Don’ts” to consider when penning your resume:

• Don’t use an email address that is too personal or unprofessional

Your email address should be some version of your full name, ie dsmith@gmail.com or donna_smith@yahoo.com. “Princess368” or “Jakesmom” may reflect negatively and cost you an interview

• Don’t automatically include an objective at the top of your resume

Most of the time objectives are either too general to be relevant or too specific for the job you’re applying for and will hurt your chances. Employers often take objectives very literally, so you may not get an interview if the job listed in your objective isn’t available or you don’t have the right skills for it, even if there’s another (possibly better) job you might be a better fit for. Plus, many employers keep resumes on file for years, and your objective might change. You don’t want them to refrain from calling you because you limited yourself in your resume.

• Don’t use the first person when writing a resume

“I worked as a staff nurse on a medical-surgical unit where I sometimes acted as charge nurse” does not sound as professional as, ”Worked as a charge nurse on a medical-surgical unit, occasional charge nurse duties.“

• Don’t list incorrect contact info, or forget to check your voicemail or email

Listing a cell phone number that is inactive will make you look careless, not to mention you will not be reachable to schedule an interview when you actually get one! Likewise, if you take more than a day or two to respond to an inquiry it will make you appear disorganized or disinterested. If you are applying for jobs make sure you check your voicemail and e-mail regularly.

• Don’t include personal information

Information such as age, religion, race or ethnicity should be left off the resume, even if it influences when you can work or what work you can do. This information should be brought up in person, or after an interview has occurred. If you are applying through a recruiter, one of the benefits is that they can bring up any special needs you may have in an appropriate way.

Be sure to check back for Part II of ”The Don’ts“ as well as other great resume writing tips! 

Alison Kuhns
Director – Healthcare

As a recruiter, I have seen a lot of resumes in my time. Although there are hundreds of articles and tips around the internet with Resume writing advice, I have created a personal list of my MOST IMPORTANT resume “do’s” that I would like to share with you:

1. Do choose a simple resume format and be consistent.
   Resumes with many sizes of fonts, italics, bold and uneven indentations look cluttered and will distract from the point of your resume.  Print a sample copy of your resume and make sure the little things like capitalization and alignment are correct.
   
2. Do bullet your resume.
   Long, detailed paragraphs are difficult to get through and will not grab a reader’s attention. Stick to organized, succinct bullets to make sure your experience comes across in a clear way
   
3. Do include a few day-to-day responsibilities for each position.
   A case manager is slightly different at every company, so make sure you clearly explain what your day-to-day responsibilities are, even if you feel like it should be obvious. We regularly have clients send resume that aren’t thorough enough back and ask for more detail.
   
4. Do include all special skills, certifications, or languages you speak.
   You never know what may make the difference for an employer, so include everything that might distinguish you.
5. Do Include the most important information in the first few inches of your resume
   Employers do not spend a long time reviewing resumes, so your most important skills and experience needs to come across right away to give you the best shot at getting an interview. Sometimes a short, one sentence summary at the top is a good idea in order to focus the reader on what you bring to the table. “Bilingual social worker with 10 years of managed care and home care experience”

(to be continued…)

Alison Kuhns
Director – Healthcare