Then And Now: The Way Resumes Have Changed Over The Years

The mistakes of the past will always teach you valuable lessons when you attempt to create yourself a brand-new resume that hits the spot. Resumes have changed drastically from what they were a decade ago. If you look at a resume from a while back, you would not be able to even recognize it for what it is.

You must be aware of how resumes have changed since the last time you wrote one so that your new resume does not look outdated. Having an old-fashioned resume is not bound to get you a favorable opinion in the hiring manager’s mind. Here are some changes that you should be mindful of when creating a new resume:

Format and Template

Back then, resumes were not minimalistic. people incorporated a lot of styles and design elements into their resumes. Fancy fonts, colors, graphics, text boxes, and even a photograph were common sights on a resume.

Today resumes look more professional, with a minimalistic style. Resumes don’t use multiple or fancy fonts but stick to around two easily readable fonts. The resumes do not use graphics, text boxes, or tables to be compatible with ATSs. Photographs are also discouraged in resumes because they might lead to discrimination against candidates.

Contact Details

Earlier resumes had the name of the candidate listed with a Mr., Mrs., or Miss in front on top of the page. Below the name, applicants used to list all sorts of details including, but not limited to, home telephone number, full address, and personal details such as date of birth, gender, marital status, and the number of children.

Today resumes start with a header that mentions the candidate’s name and the title of the applied position. Instead of a full address, it is sufficient to include your city with the zip code. the contact details today include a mobile number, email address, link to the LinkedIn profile, and a link to a professional portfolio.

Professional Profile and Objective

Years ago, the professional profile was a paragraph teeming with buzzwords and clichéd phrases. Underneath the professional profile, applicants included an objective statement that describes the kind of job they want.

At present, the professional profile of a candidate is a summary that rounds up their skills and expertise, tailored for a specific job description. The objective is no longer seen in resumes today due to its redundancy.

Work History

In older resumes, applicants used to summarize their entire career history whether they were relevant or not. These described each job in detailed paragraphs and included descriptions of responsibilities.

Today, we do not see detailed work histories on resumes. The work experience section only mentions the relevant work history dating no more than 10 years back. Lengthy paragraphs are ditched in favor of compact bullet points that mention quantified achievements instead of responsibilities. The jobs are listed in reverse chronological order and the bullet points are prioritized so that the best comes first.

Education

Older resumes had educational qualifications listed right on top after the contact details and included every single detail from OL results from decades ago to the college degree.

Today, the education section comes after the work experience section of the resume, unless you are a recent grad without much experience. The educational qualifications are listed in reverse chronological order, and older qualifications such as high school diplomas are left unmentioned if the applicant has higher education qualifications like a college degree or a master’s degree.