Sometimes writing resumes inspire you to step outside of the box, especially if you've been writing them for years and feel that what's been tried hasn't always been true. There's nothing wrong with trying something new. For instance, many are learning that adding testimonials is something that some hiring managers love to see.

However, there are things you don't want to add to your resume under most circumstances because they detract from the quality of the document. Let's look at a few things that, in terms of a resume, are best left unseen.

Your References

In this day and age, adding references to a resume just takes up unnecessary space. Often times, companies don't plan to call with the references you've given them because they know of other ways to find background information on you. However, this doesn't mean that they could never want to see what others have to say about you. To be safe, just allow them to ask for references and don't mention them on your resume at all. 

Your Picture

Any person offering certified resume help will tell you that adding your picture to your resume is a no-no unless you're a model, actor, comedian or a part of some other form of entertainment. What you look like has nothing to do with your ability to perform a job, so the last thing you want is to encourage this feeling from an employer.

Personal Attributes

Like your picture, your personal attributes (height, weight, age, race) don't need to be added to your resume and should never be asked of you even during the interviewing stage unless you're applying for a job in the entertainment field. Companies are strictly prohibited from discriminating against candidates based on personal attributes, so there's no need to address this topic at all.

A "Me, Me, Me" Objective

Using objective statements is slowly but surely becoming a thing of the past on resumes. But if you do choose to use one, it's good to make sure that it steers away from the idea that you want the job to fulfill all of your hopes and dreams. Of course, you secretly want to enhance your career, but in the eyes of the company, if your plan is not to work to help them out, they will find someone whose is.

It may be tempting to add something to your resume to make it stand out. But before you add the items listed above, think twice as they could negatively affect your chances of being hired for the position you want.

Is your resume still stuck in the 80s? Are you still utilizing resume writing techniques you took on when you first learned to create a resume? It may be time to evolve with the new millennium.

When you receive resume help from professionals, you have access to the resume updates you need. But if you're going at it on your home, here are a few tips to consider...

You Don't Have to Fit a Resume on One Page

There was a time that squeezing everything you could on one page of a resume was the thing to do. But typically, hiring managers of today expect your resume to fit on one page unless you're a recent college grad with little-to-no experience.

If you have enough information to flow over to a second page then by all means use that space. There's no need to cut out vital information to fulfill a requirement that doesn't exist.

Referencing Your References is Unnecessary

There was a time that mentioning that your references are available was the "in" thing to do. But now, everyone pretty much understands that references are available as needed. Not to mention that many job applicants have LinkedIn pages that offer dozens of recommendations, similar to references. In our technological age, this ancient reference just isn't necessary anymore, so keep this in mind before typing in the phrase "References Available Upon Request."

You Can Remove Those Old Jobs

If you're accustomed to listing every job you've ever worked chronologically on your resume, it's good to know that this is a practice you can stop. As a mid-career accountant looking for a new position, listing that you worked at Burger King in high school will not help you get a new accounting job. So it's a good idea to comb through your resume to see what jobs are no longer relevant to your career then bravely let them go.

Sometimes it's difficult to tell that our resume is stuck in a different decade, but if you suspect yours is, now's the time to get it up to speed. The sooner you fine tune your details, the sooner you could increase your chances of being considered by new employers.

It's no secret that hiring managers are in fact human beings. And despite the fact that they're supposed to be objective when it comes to considering candidates for a position, they're not always good at it.

It's for this reason that many candidates choose to disclose as little personal information as possible on their resumes. But some information, like disabilities, can be pretty important. Does this mean this information should be listed on the resume?

Why Employers Hesitate to Hire Disabled Workers

While some employers may be personally prejudiced towards disabled workers, some hesitate when it comes to hiring them because they know that the disability could interfere with the employee's ability to work consistently. For instance, if a worker has been diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, they may have days where they can barely hold a pencil, let alone walk around and talk to clients.

When a disability affects a worker's ability to get the job done, it has an impact on the company. It's for this reason that some employers, right or wrong, choose to steer clear of disabled workers.

Should You List Your Disability?

Now with knowing that some employers hesitate to hire workers with disabilities, is it a good idea to list it on your resume? Different professional resume specialists may give different advice on what you should do. But in general, most agree that if the disability won't affect your ability to do your job and do it well then it's a good idea to avoid mentioning it on the resume. Not only is it information the company doesn't need to know at that point, but according to the Americans with Disabilities Act, you are not obligated to disclose the information anyway.

If the question comes up in an interview then of course you don't want to lie about your disability. But as far as your resume goes, there's no need to list the disability unless you think it will hinder your effectiveness in the position you're applying for. So don't feel pressured to add it out of guilt. You're not lying to a prospective employer. You're simply exercising your right to secure your personal information.

Writing a resume is usually something no one wants to take part in because it requires pulling together a lot of boring information and often results in no response from an employer. It's for this reason that some choose get help from a professional resume specialist to bypass all of the work they don't want to deal with.

The good news is that working with a specialist could help to create a resume that is not only incredibly professional, but also effective. But even more, getting resume help could help you learn to help yourself in the future. Let's look at how this is possible.

Learn How Good Resumes Are Written

One major benefit of getting help from a resume professional is that you learn how to write a good resume. Sometimes all it takes is a good template to get you on the right track. If you speak with the resume professional about what's taking place throughout the process then you could very well learn enough about how to write a resume to write your own stellar version in the future.

Ponder Your Future with a Professional

It's very likely that you ponder your future quite often on your own, but sometimes it takes a professional to help bring things into perspective. When a resume writer asks you to pool together your information and determine what should go into your resume, this time usually helps professionals really take a good look at where they've been and intend to go. It's great to get the guidance of a professional throughout this process because it provides steps that you could take with you into the future.

You may decide that you would prefer to write your own resume. But if you choose to get the help of a professional, it's good to know that there ar some benefits involved that could help you help yourself in the future.

Sometimes writing a resume can feel like such a chore. You know that this document could make or break your chances of being hired for a position, yet it feels like something you want to write and get out of your hands as soon as possible.

The only problem with taking this attitude toward your resume is that it results in a document that looks like it's been thrown together. If you really want to increase your chances of being hired, it's time to take a different approach to writing your resume. Let's look at some ways that you could begin to see your resume as your best friend.

Remember That Your Resume Gets Interviews

Your resume plays a significant role in the job search process. While many think that the interview is the place where all of the magic happens, the resume is what gets you the interview. It's for this reason that you need to give as much love and attention to the resume as you do the interviewing process. First impressions mean everything and in this case, the first impression could make or break your chances of being hired.

Resumes Provide Career Guidance

It may seem that your resume is used as a tool to summarize your career, but in actuality, it could be used as a tool to help guide it as well. If you work with a resume specialist then you will find out that pulling together the information needed to write your resume offers you a number of benefits.

First you have a chance to look over everything that you've accomplished in your career, which offers perspective every professional needs. And second, you have a chance to think about the direction you'd like to take in your career and really explore whether you're on the career path you desire.

If you take time to write a meaningful resume, tons of benefits are likely to follow. So sit down by yourself or with a professional and write the resume of a lifetime. Not only could you acquire the job of your dreams, but sculpt the career you've desired for years.

As you already know, there are two major components that play a role in whether you will be hired for a position: your resume and interview. If you want a fair chance at the position you desire then it’s important for both your resume and interview to contain thorough information about you.

The good news is if you really need assistance, you could always get help with professional resumes. But what about your interview? How do you make sure that it is as thorough as it needs to be to help you snag that job?

Follow Your Resume’s Lead

When sitting down for your interview, it’s easy to feel fearful about the things that will be talked about and whether you will make a good impression. This is the time that you could follow your resume’s lead and talk about how you think you can make a difference with the company. Your resume already did a good job of getting you called in for an interview. Now’s the time to thoroughly share how you think you can make the biggest difference for the company.

Take Time to Rehearse

One way to make sure that you have a successful interview is by taking time to rehearse before going into the interview. You could have a friend help you rehearse by playing the role of the interviewer. By going through the steps involved, you could not only feel more comfortable about being interviewed, but also come up with some great answers to increase your chances of snagging the position.

Do More Than Make Small Talk

One pet peeve of hiring managers is that they spend the interview gabbing with you without getting down to business. It’s nice that you’re able to bond through small talk about pets, kids and vacations, but if the time is wasted on small talk, the interviewer will never get to know whether you’re the right person for the job. So while there’s nothing wrong with a little small talk to help feel comfortable, it’s good to refrain from too much chit chat.

Of course, the resume is an extremely important portion of any application process, but so is the interview. So if you can conduct your interview in as thorough a way as your write your resume, you should have no problem snagging the job you want.

One of the greatest mysteries of applying for a job is getting the "We're not interested..." letter not long after submitting an application and resume. "Didn't they see how great a candidate I was?" you ask yourself as you continue your job search. What's interesting is that the answer is no, they didn't see how great a candidate you were because they probably didn't see your resume at all.

How is it possible that they didn't see your resume? Well, most companies have become more efficient by using new technology like ATS that filters out unsatisfactory candidates before the hiring manager ever sees them.

What in the World is ATS?

ATS is also known as the Applicant Tracking Systems. This program manages a company's recruiting process by sorting through resumes and selecting a few dozen that meet specific criteria and therefore are good enough to pass on to the hiring manager.

The criteria are determined by each company and could easily vary, but typically, it will look for specific keywords in the resume that show how closely you match who they're looking for in a candidate.

If your resume doesn't offer those keywords then your resume will most likely not be noticed. While those who were able to place the right words into their document will move on to the next round.

How to Know What Keywords Work Well with ATS

As mentioned previously, a specific company's use of ATS will vary, but this doesn't mean that you can't write your resume to take advantage of the system. Whether you're getting resume professional help or writing yours on your own, it's a good idea to speak with professionals in your industry who could tell you what some buzzwords are.

You could also look in industry newsletters and websites to see what words are being used. And don't forget to reference the job posting to pick out the needs of the employer.

ATS could be intimidating to some job seekers because it so boldly stands in between them and a job opportunity. But by taking time to learn the right keywords to use when applying, the system could switch from being your foe to becoming your friend.

Video resumes have been around for a few years and have been thought of as a unique way to apply for a job when you want to sidestep the standard resume. But what are they exactly and is creating one for yourself the way to go? Let's take a closer look at just what the deal is with video resumes.

What are Video Resumes?

Video resumes are the creative version of the traditional paper resume. Some job seekers have found that by setting up a video camera and speaking their qualifications rather than writing them down, they've had more success in finding work. The format for creating a video resume is typically the same - you want to video record it then utilize a file type that could be transferred onto a DVD.

There's no doubt that with a bit of ingenuity and creativity, you could make a great video resume that both addresses the needs of the employer and keeps their attention at the same time. But the question you should ask yourself is, is the video resume right for you?

When Should You Use Them?

Most experts agree that video resumes aren't for everyone. Of course, there's the one person out of 10,000 who has tried playing the guitar on a stool and won over the eclectic hiring manager. But in many traditional hiring firms, this won't go over as well. So when is it okay to use a video resume?

If you are in the creative arts, including acting, modeling, singing and dancing, they're a great choice. They could even work for salesman positions where presentation skills are vital. You could even try them with account manager and trainer positions. And if you're working in IT, you could use one as a supplement to show that you're proficient or have developed a program.

But for the typical office job, it may feel like a waste of the hiring manager's job to have to pop in a DVD and watch a video resume. So use your discretion if you think this is a route you'd like to take since creating one and making it a great could make the difference in being a top or bottom choice of job candidates. And if you have decided that the video resume isn't for you, consider traditional resume help to make the most of the written format.

Ever heard the phrase “easier said than done”? Well, if you’ve ever worked on your own resume then you know it is most likely “easier said than written.” In other words, it’s easier to say that you’re going to write your resume than actually write it.

However, this doesn’t mean that writing a resume is impossible. People do it every day. The key is to complete a few key steps first to make sure your start-to-finish process is one that results in a fantastic finished product.

Get Organized

The first step in creating a great resume is to make sure that you’re organized. You want to collect about 20 companies (after conducting research on them) that you would like to apply with and make sure that they all suit your needs – and that you can suit theirs.

In addition, it’s important to round up your skills and accomplishments. When this is done, you’ll be able to move on to the next step, which is choosing a focus.

Choose a Focus

When writing your resume, you need a focus that’s greater than your desire to just get hired. You need to know what it is that you want out of your career and how your next job can help to move you to that next level. As you acquire a focus, you may start to see some of your chosen companies fall out of the ranking. But this isn’t a bad thing; it just helps to make sure you’re not wasting anyone’s time as you apply for jobs.

Add Keywords and Action Words

Once you’ve chosen the companies and know exactly what you’re looking for in your career and next position, it’s time to write resumes for the companies you’re applying with. In addition to the obvious elements that you’ll add (career summary, job history, education, accomplishments, highlights, rewards, etc.) you want to add keywords that pertain to your industry and action words (ex. managed, initiated, developed, organized) that show that you’re able to initiate actions, not just do what you’re told.

Proofread then Proofread Again

After you’ve written your resume, you want to make sure that you proofread it again and again before ever submitting it. If you make a spelling error, grammatical mistake or simply have a typo in the mix, the hiring manager will see it and suddenly feel very leery about your ability to produce polished work if hired.

Don’t be Afraid of Professional Help

If you’ve been spending time working on your resume and feel that you’re not able to get the job done on your own, don’t be afraid to ask for assistance. There are plenty of professionals offering resume help at a reasonable price that could churn out a quality document in no time.

There’s no doubt that working on a resume is a much bigger project to take on than it seems. In a sense, it plays a major contributing factor in your financial future. So spend time working on it and treating it as the important document that it is. This way, you give yourself a greater guarantee that it will produce the results that you desire.

Have you been using the same resume format for the past 15 years and wonder why it isn't getting you the callbacks you'd desire? You might take a look at it to make sure that it isn't outdated.

But what if it is? What can you do? You could get professional help with resume writing or make adjustments on your own. If you want to try by yourself then consider the following tips...

Drop the Objective Statement

The objective statement offers employers a look into what you want in your career and why you're pursuing the position. However, they're much more interesting in what you can do for them than what you think they can do for you. So instead of using an objective statement, try a career summary. It works as a miniature cover letter that gives insight into your best professional accomplishments and engages the reader enough to have the stick around for more.

Get Rid of the Fax Number

Since no one uses a fax machine anymore except in extreme circumstances, it's a good idea to go ahead and remove the fax number from your resume. Instead, just add a URL to your LinkedIn or Facebook page - or add a link to your blog.

Try More than One Font

When typewriters were the only way to create resumes, one font size was the only option. Now, computers offer hundreds of options. Of course, you don't want to use most of them because they're just too funky and weird for a resume. But if you want to switch it up by adding two unique font styles and more two or three sizes, it's a great route to take to not only give your resume an updated look but make it easier to read.

Sidestep the "References Available Upon Request" Phrase

This phrase was popular over a decade ago when trying to let a manager know you could offer references if they needed them. But now, this is pretty much understood by all parties, so you don't need to go out of your way to add the phrase. If you have a LinkedIn page, your recommendations may be enough information for employers, but if not, don't worry, they'll ask for whatever information they need from you when the time is right.

Your resume may be outdated, but the good news is that this is an easy problem to fix. It's better to start updating it sooner than later, however, so that you don't have too many more people looking at it thinking that your approach as an employee is as old and stale as your resume.