A lot goes into job searching, and anyone in the workforce can say the same. Your resume and cover letter need to be in tip-top shape. You need to have a good approach during the interview process and be able to negotiate terms for yourself as well.

The most complex and most important part of the process is writing a resume because everything depends on the fact that you need to inspire confidence in the hiring managers to reach the other steps. Writing a resume can be stressful, but there is an art to it. If you follow our outlined dos and don’ts, you will achieve the perfect resume. If you’re looking for a free resume builder, click the link to find Resume Giant’s tool.

Here’s a list of the do’s:

Keep It Short

Your resume should be about quality, not quantity. It would be best to keep the length short; this is one of the most common mistakes people make. Resumes should be 1-2 pages at most. It should give an idea of your qualifications and experience while keeping it concise. Your cover letter and interview will already provide more details about you. Most hiring managers only skim through resumes, so it is essential to keep it short, as it can lose their attention if it’s too long.

You should include your contact information, professional experience, education and certifications, skills and accomplishments and references if they were requested on the job listing.

You can also try out different orders based on what you list on your resume to see which one looks best. You should make sure the most relevant information is up to date, and the rest follows it. You can also always leave out information that isn’t relevant to the current job listing to make room for the appropriate experiences to shine through.

Adjust to Job Listing

Most companies use application tracking systems, which filter out resumes that don’t include the relevant keywords in the job listing. For this reason, it is vital to highlight relevant job experiences. It also helps to include keywords that were used in the job listing to ensure your resume gets to the hiring manager’s desk.

Format Properly

Formatting makes the information in your resume pop. Since hiring managers mainly skim resumes, creating a visual hierarchy of the text in your resume is essential. This also says a lot to a hiring manager about your attention to detail and technical skills.

Be wary of fonts and colours that make your text hard to read, and make sure your page margins are 1” on all sides. It also helps to columnize your resume to give it a more visual feel and make the information accessible to spot. You can also use headings and font sizes to highlight job titles.

Now, here is a list of the don’ts:

Label Resume

There is no need to label your resume, as most hiring managers should be able to do that based on the information in it.

Date the Resume

Some people automatically date their resumes, but that is unnecessary. Employers don’t need to know when it was created, and it is not relevant to the hiring process.

Don’t Include Photographs

In some countries, it is acceptable to use photographs in your resume, and they might even request them. This is not the case in the US, as Equal Employment Opportunity legislation exists. Photographs might not help this, as they can be grounds for hiring employees for discriminatory reasons. To be safe, don’t include a photograph unless it is requested or is the norm in your country. Also, this might not apply to jobs such as acting or modelling.

Don’t Lie

When it comes to your resume, honesty is the best option. Lying on a resume might get you a job interview but can backfire during your employment at the company. This can also lead to the employer firing you for misrepresenting yourself on your resume.

Don’t List High School

Your higher education is only necessary to list on your resume. If your highest level of education is high school, that is the only situation in which you should include your high school degree.

Don’t Include Unrelated Skills

Adding unrelated skills can be a red flag to recruiters as it doesn’t give you a better chance to get called for an interview. You should ensure your skills are relevant to the job you are applying for. Avoid using words such as “team player” as it doesn’t give any necessary information and is overused.

Don’t Give Reasons for Leaving Jobs

While the hiring manager might ask about this information during the interview, it is unprofessional to include it. Your resume should only highlight an overview of your work experience. Adding a paragraph about why you left a previous job is completely unnecessary.

Don’t Mention References

Some people include “references available upon request” on their resumes. This is unnecessary as most employers assume you can provide references if they ask for them. However, be attentive while reading the job listing, as some companies request references with your resume.