When you’re well into your career, you typically have ample experience relating to your field and specialties. As a result, you may think that showcasing everything you bring to the table on your resume is a wise move.

However, including too much on your resume can actually work against you. If you’re wondering why you should narrow down your relevant work experience on your resume, here’s what you need to know.

Initial Resume Screenings Aren’t Deep Dives

In most cases, resumes are screened several times to determine which candidates are the best possible matches for the role. While it’s common to assume that each round involves a thorough reading of your resume, that’s rarely how it plays out.

First, many companies use an applicant tracking system (ATS) to perform automated screenings. These solely look for keywords and, if there aren’t enough present, discard resumes that seemingly don’t fit the bill.

Second, resumes that pass through the ATS check may initially get a quick skim from a hiring manager, not a thorough read-through. This is particularly true for openings that attract a significant number of applicants, as reviewing every resume in its entirety isn’t practical.

Instead, hiring managers quickly look over resumes, seeking out relevant skills and experience. If what you list isn’t highly focused on the job, the odds that the hiring manager will overlook the details they deem critical go up significantly. As a result, your resume could end up in the discard pile, all because your relevant experience was buried by irrelevant information.

Irrelevant Information Makes Resumes Look Generic

Even if a hiring manager gives your resume a thorough read-through, too much irrelevant information can make your resume seem generic. They may assume that you didn’t take the time to target it to the role. Instead, you merely created one resume that you’re sending out to everyone.

With a generic resume brimming with irrelevant points, it can seem like you aren’t enthusiastic about this specific opportunity. It may also cause the hiring manager to question your attention to detail, particularly if you don’t address the majority of the must-haves listed in the job ad.

In either case, this simple misstep can cost you opportunities. Hiring managers classically favor highly targeted resumes that show you’re the best candidate for the exact job they want to fill. If you don’t put forth the effort and other candidates do, your odds of moving forward in the hiring process are greatly diminished.

In the end, all of these potential drawbacks are entirely avoidable. By taking the time to narrow down the content of your resume to ensure every point is highly relevant, you demonstrate passion for the opportunity and attention to detail. Plus, it makes it easier to position yourself as an exceptional match, making it far more likely that you’d secure an interview invitation and, ultimately, a job offer.

Apply To Your Next Consulting Role

If you’d like to learn more about how you can improve your chances of securing a new career-boosting job, the team at Alpha Consulting wants to hear from you. Contact us today.