Bach Seat

It is time to give your resume a post-pandemic refresh for 2023. You should make sure that your resume is focused on current job skills. To make your resume more modern, focus on current job skills instead of those that no longer are quite so relevant. Here is a list of things you should take off your resume. These obsolete skills take up space on your resume. FinanceBuzz says they may actually reduce your chances at landing a new job.

Packaging and shipping

In the past, mail rooms that packed and shipped memo, reports and packages were important to keep business moving. In 2023 you can delete the packing and shipping skills from your resume. These have been replaced by email and online programs that can print labels and track packages.

Typing

Typing is a skill that has become ubiquitous in the modern workplace. In the past, typing proficiency was reserved for people who held positions in which typing was regularly needed. Now, most employees have computers on their desks.

Filing

Filing is another office skill that computers have replaced. Files are no longer pieces of paper, to be managed, they are kept in computers. There is no need to boast of this skill.

Web browser use

Using a web browser is another skill employers assume your have. It is pointless to list web browsers such as Microsoft Edge, Firefox, or Google Chrome on your resume. Be sure to delete references to outdated browsers like Netscape or (gasp) AOL.

Data entry

With the rise of technology in the workplace, most workers have some understanding of basic data entry.  You can skip mentioning proficiency related to data entry unless the job requires you to add large amounts of information to a database. In that case, mention a specific database entry program you understand thoroughly.

Online research

In 2023, online research can come off your resume. Online research is another universal skill for most workers. Most workers know how to use online search engines like Google or Bing to find the information they need. Save the space on your resume for more relevant skills.

Email

It used to be that understanding how to write, send, or receive emails was a new concept, but that’s obviously not the case anymore. You can also remove any references to your work with Microsoft Outlook, as well as web-based email such as Gmail.

Computer languages

You might have experience with multiple computer languages, but it’s probably better to limit your resume to mentioning languages specific to a job opening. Some computer languages are outdated now, so adding them to your resume might make you appear out of touch with today’s technology.

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word has become so prevalent in the workforce that employers assume you know it already. Adding it to your resume might be seen as unnecessary bloat. Word isn’t the only ubiquitous application. You can remove other Microsoft applications such as Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint from your resume.

Your address

City and state are really as granular as you need to get. These days, it can be dangerous to include anything more. “You don’t need everybody in the world knowing exactly where you’re living,” says CNBC. “A lot of people consider it a security concern, either for identity theft or because you don’t want someone showing up at your house.”  

College degree

Don’t overemphasize your degree. Harvard says employers might not be as interested in your college degree as they once were. Did you major in a field that doesn’t have much relevance to your current position? Did you graduate more than a decade ago?

If you’re an older worker and want to keep your college degree on your resume, remove your graduation date. Instead, highlight recent certification programs or continuing education classes that are relevant to your most recent positions.

 

How you can help Ukraine!

Related article

• After the Great Resignation and quiet quitting, the era of ‘loud layoffs’ is here (CNBC)

 

Ralph Bach has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Email the Bach Seat here.