When you’re trying to land IT contract jobs or permanent positions, you need to make sure your resume stands out for the right reasons. Not only do you have to craft it to get past any automated screening software. It also needs to be compelling in the eyes of the hiring manager.

Regretfully, certain details in your IT resume (or any resume) can actually increase your odds of ending up in the discard pile. By eliminating unnecessary information, you streamline your resume and increase its relevance. Making it more likely that you’ll snag an interview. If you aren’t sure whether every part of your resume should stay where it is, here are some things that you should remove immediately.

Objective Statement

In reality, objective statements fell out of fashion years ago. Along with being a bit antiquated, they don’t provide hiring managers with value. In most cases, an objective statement focuses on what you want, not what you can do for the company.

Today, it’s better to skip objective statements entirely. Instead, replace it with a professional summary, as that lets you showcase what you have to offer, not what you’re hoping to achieve.

Mailing Addresses

Generally, your mailing address is unnecessary on a resume. While you can list your city and state if you want to show that you’re local, having your street address just takes up space. Most hiring managers don’t communicate by mail early in the hiring process, so they don’t need that information yet.

In some cases, leaving your address off entirely is genuinely wise. This is especially true if you’re preparing to relocate but haven’t moved yet, as an out-of-town address may hurt your chances of landing an interview.

Excess Social Media Profiles

While including your LinkedIn URL or other professional social media profile URLs can be a good idea, never list your personal profiles on your resume. Additionally, pare down the list to just one or two if you have several professional profiles, as more than that can be overwhelming.

Graphs, Images, Charts, Tables, and Other Graphics

While a picture may be worth one thousand words, that doesn’t mean images on your resume is a good idea. For one, applicant tracking systems (ATSs) that scan resumes for keywords can’t read what’s contained in most graphics. If you have important details stashed in a table or infographic, there’s a chance you’ll get screened out even if you have the right skills and experience.

Finally, certain graphic elements can make reviewing your resume difficult. You don’t want the hiring manager to have to hunt down the information they need because, if that’s what’s required, they likely won’t.

Past Salaries

Listing your salary history won’t do you any favors. It could create an opportunity for a prospective employer to make a lower offer if your earnings were lower than the norm during your career. Plus, if you make a mistake and list the wrong salary, they might view that error as dishonesty, which can cost you the job.

Land Your Next IT Contract Job

Ultimately, each of the items above can be safely removed from essentially any resume. If you’re ready for your next IT contract job or other consulting position, the team at Alpha Consulting can help. Contact us today.