What makes a résumé perfect that attracts recruiters? Learn what you should not put in your curriculum vitae. Here are resume writing tips to improve your CV for the next targeted job.

When writing a curriculum vitae, many people put it together with the philosophy of "spaghetti on the wall": throw everything they can and expect something to stick. But recruiters and hiring managers look for quality information, not quantity. After all, you only have 7 seconds to capture the attention of a recruiter, so make sure you communicate quickly with positive things. That is why it is convenient to cut the information that you present in your CV.


Take for example the portfolio of an artist. 

"Any serious professional will tell you that your portfolio is only as strong as your weakest piece. The same can be said of the skills you list in your CV: less is more," says Aurora Meneghello, career coach and founder of Repurpose Your Purpose.

Are you trying to improve your CV? Start by removing these activities that are not attractive to recruiters.

1. A language that you only studied in high school

Sure, you took French in high school for a few months, but are you really on a level where you feel comfortable holding daily conversations with native speakers or reading in that language? You shouldn't put it on your resume if the answer is "no."

"It does not matter if you have a basic or intermediate understanding of a language. Unless you master it and you can use it for work, leave it out," suggests Meneghello.

In the worst case, the recruiter could speak the same language and try to start a conversation. If you discover that you are lying about that skill, you can bet that you will not be invited to go ahead in the hiring process.

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2. Basic computer skills such as email and Microsoft Word

At this point in history, knowing how to use email or Microsoft Word is almost equivalent to understanding how to read or handle basic math. That is, they are not differentiators, but you are expected to know how to use these tools.

"By adding these 'skills,' it may appear that the candidates are trying to 'inflate' their resume - that is, they are putting anything on their CV because they do not have enough relevant skills," says Peter Riccio, founding partner of the company recruiting Atlas Search.

An exception to this would be if you've perfected a particular practice using these programs, like "[creating] an access database from scratch and importing data from Excel to do Big Data analysis," says career coach Mary Warriner.

3. Use of social networks (outside of work)

You may have millions of followers on Twitter, thousands of friends on Facebook and many likes on Instagram, but managing your brand and managing a company's professional brand are two entirely different things. Working in social media in a professional setting often requires more than merely posting compelling content - usually involving data analysis, payment experience, and more.

"You can be very good at posting photos of your friends and even sharing news about your current business, but if you're not applying for a social networking position, you should not boast what you know how to do on Facebook," says Warriner. "Better check the job offer to see the skills required and be sure to list the significant skills you have."

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4. The so-called " soft skills "

These skills are a bit difficult to manage because recruiters do not love to see them in CVs. However, you must prove them with facts. For example, saying that you are an excellent communicator means nothing if you can not prove it with concrete examples.

"The most common mistake among job seekers is to make a list of soft skills in their CV. For example, they say they are good communicators, they know how to do various tasks at the same time, they have leadership skills, they are good at solving problems, etc. The message you send by putting these things on your resume is 'I don't know what my best skills are, that's why I put them all together so you can see them,' "says Riccio.

Instead of listing your soft skills, you better demonstrate them.

"Communicate your skills in the body of your CV. For example, instead of putting 'leadership,' write that you have conducted multiple simultaneous projects with positive results, "advises Riccio.

5. Exaggerations or lies

Job seekers often include words they see on job applications to embellish their CVs. But if you do not have the skills requested in the job offer, do not include them in your resume. You may think that you are going to get away with it, but it will eventually come to light.

"If you are not an excellent oral communicator, do not put it on your CV. If the job requires you to get up and talk in front of a group of people every day, you would probably be miserable if you lie, "Warriner says.

That does not mean that you must have ALL the skills listed in the job offer. A good rule of thumb is that you can have 80-90% of the features required to get the attention of recruiters.

6. Outdated Technology

Software and technology used in the workplace can change quickly, so it is essential to stay current in its use. Otherwise, you run the risk of looking like you cannot keep yourself in a dynamic workplace.

"Businesses are looking for sophisticated, flexible professionals who understand technology. By including your use of obsolete technology in the skills section of your resume, you give employers the impression that your knowledge is stale and that it will take a long time to learn new skills, "says Riccio. "In a market as competitive as today, employers want to invest in people who have demonstrated the ability to learn quickly."

So leave out things like coding languages that are no longer widely used, old versions of modern software programs and other irrelevant technologies.

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7. Irrelevant information and joke skills

This may sound obvious, but some people still put things in their CV as "expert guacamole cook" or "certified ping pong champion."

"Do not include skills that are irrelevant to the job you are applying for.I'm incredibly proud to have made the best cookies from a colony contest, but I work in human resources.I do not put that on my resume!" Says Warriner.

Sure, there are probably some recruiters who will find those funny or charming details. But when you apply for a job, you do not know who will appreciate that joke and who does not, so it's better to side with professionalism.