10 Things You Should Remove Immediately From Your CV

Whether you’re starting a brand new career like I was or you’re getting back on the job market, your resume can make or break your job search. The big question, though, is what exactly you should do to turn your resume from an autobiography that no one finishes to a lean, efficient 1-pager that lands you interviews right and left.

Not sure what needs deleting? There’s good news: You can improve your resume 1000% just by removing these 10 small things:

1. Anything That Doesn’t Directly Relate to the Job You’re Applying for
When you’re updating your resume for a particular job listing, pay attention to what the responsibilities and necessary requirements are. If each bullet point on your resume can’t directly relate to something from that job posting, it’s best to leave it out.

2. Jobs From More Than 5-10 Years Prior
Take out your random assortment of campus jobs from your college years or those couple of temp jobs you worked during your first year or two out of school. Chances are they have nothing to do with what you’re applying for.

3. Irrelevant Accomplishments or Awards
There’s no need to include that you won your county’s hoola hoop competition in the third grade, or that you were on the Dean’s List in college…unless those awards make you more qualified for the job at hand!

4. An Objective Line or Statement
Writing an objective statement at the top of your resume only swallows up precious resume space! Besides, you can write about yourself in your cover letter and/or application email.

5. Skills That Are a Given or Outdated
We’re over a decade and a half into the 21st century. You’re expected to know how to use Microsoft Word (and pretty much all of Microsoft Office), so there’s no point in writing it in your “skills” section.

Instead, if you’re applying to jobs in tech, focus on computer languages, programs, and apps you know that can truly set you apart in an applicant pool.

6. Images or Visuals
Unless you’re a designer doing a creative resume, steer clear of including photos, clipart, or graphs. They clutter up your resume, take up valuable space, and make it difficult to print out your resume (in the unlikely event that happens!)

7. Cliché or Vague Phrases
Calling yourself “results-driven” or a “team player” really doesn’t tell a potential employer much at this point. Save yourself the space and use specific examples to prove that you are these things.

For example, share information about a team you led and what you accomplished!

8. “References Upon Request”
There’s no need to add anything at the end of the resume that explains how references are available upon request. To a hiring manager, this is a given. And hey, deleting this line means more space for you!

9. Full Paragraphs
Steer clear of full paragraphs in your resume. Each previous role you list should have three or four bullet points (five or six tops if they’re super short!) explaining your position, your responsibilities, and your impact.

If there’s something you think is crucial for a potential employer to know, save that explanation for your cover letter!

10. Exaggerated Statements (or Straight-Up Lies!)
Keep in mind that hiring managers check up with your past employers and do their own research, so even if you think a small exaggeration will go unnoticed, trust me when I say it won’t.