Should You Dumb Down Your Resume To Get A Job

Have you faced a time where you have repeatedly heard the potential employer telling you that you are overqualified for a job? Have you faced rejection because you had more knowledge than required? Also, does your application gets rejected because of the job history mentioned in the resume was far more than what was required?

A resume is your branding document that contains every information of yours whether it be your qualifications, skills and work experience. At times, your experience is something that over qualifies you for the job you are applying to. Hence, you might think of dumbing down your resume.

What Does Dumbing Down The Resume Mean?

The strategy of dumbing down a resume generally requires you to omit some of your work experience, resume skills and other credentials so that you do not look over-qualified for the job you are applying to. 

But before you make this decision, you need to understand whether this reworking on your resume is a wise thing to do or not.

When Should You Decide to Dumb Down?

Everyone needs bread and butter. Hence, at times you might want to settle for a lower position witnessing the market situation and your needs. There is a difference in being selective and lying on your resume. Lying on a resume is a complete no. Lying on your resume will get back to you and haunt you.

A dumbed down resume just needs to be tailored appropriately. You might need to remove somethings but still have something that adds positivity to your application for a particular job opening.

Are There Risks in Dumbing Your Resume?

Before you come to the decision of dumbing down your resume, think carefully. It is easy today for the employers to learn about work history, credentials and other information related to the previous jobs online or through the references. Hence, staying truthful is important.

The biggest risk in dubbing down a resume is being interpreted as dishonest. This might burn a number of bridges.

Smarter Ways of Tailoring the Resume

In the end dumbing down a resume might not be the smartest of idea when looking for a job. There are some other ways to tailor your resume that might help you get the job. Below are three strategies that can help you with a better job search process.

·         Customize Your Resume: To gain interest your resume should be highly-targeted, designed according to the needs and be formatted in way that it is above the above average league. Including a resume title would help the employers understand your career goals along with the summary that provides to the employer the overview of your employer.

·         Be Selective: Being selective implies to add details that are relevant to the present job. For example, if you are an experienced professional, with more than 10 years of experience you do not have to include your first job or internships. Your past 7-8 years of employment history is enough for the employer to understand whether you fit for the job or not. If you think that your previous experience must be highlighted, put it under the additional experience or early career section towards the end. Any kind of certification which has no relevance to the current job applied should be omitted.

·         Sell Around their Concerns: Job seekers should be able to anticipate objections that the employers might have and can use a cover letter to sell the story. You can seek to understand employers and address how your experience and age can be a tremendous asset to the organization. Sell yourself around the concerns with confidence and clarity.

Simplifying your resume makes more sense than dumbing it down. If required, make sure that you have the skills to do the same.