Updating your resume when applying for new jobs can be quite daunting, but it can really make or break an employer’s first impression of you. Career experts tell Gili Malinsky of CNBC what to scrap from your resume if you want to make it past the first stage of the interview process.  

1. Adjectives ie: “really” or “very”  

Resumes should be concise. These words are considered “empty”, Harvard career advisor Gorick Ng tells CNBC. They don’t add any flavor to what you’re trying to describe.  

2. Vague titles 

“Intern”, “manager” or “assistant” don’t really give employers a clear picture of what your position entails. The more specific, the better.

3. Self-assessments 

Let your resume speak for yourself. If you work well with others, don’t state that but instead prove it by listing your experience working in teams.

4. Company-specific jargon 

Acronyms or abbreviations used specifically in your company will be confusing to employers. They don’t have the insight into the language your company uses.

5. Trendy words 

Trendy words like ‘ninja’ can come off as unprofessional and obfuscate the message you’re trying to convey in your resume. It’s best to just keep it straightforward.

6. ‘References available upon request’ 

This is already implied. It takes up unnecessary space on your resume.  

Another tip that Ng gave CNBC was to read your resume out loud and ask yourself if it’s something a stranger would understand.  

Read more about how to make your resume stand out to employers on CNBC.  

Here are 11 more things you should avoid putting on your resume.

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