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Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates recently shared on LinkedIn his resume from 1974, when he was a student at Harvard. “Whether you’re a recent graduate or a college dropout,” he writes, “I’m sure your resume looks a lot better than mine did 48 years ago.”
The document looks more like an essay than a resume, consisting of neatly typed paragraphs from top to bottom. Since it was probably created on a typewriter, it was written in Courier font, which would be unusual to see today.
Gates was only 18 at the time it was written, a year before dropped out of Harvard to found his company. The resume shows some impressive achievements: He has already mastered multiple computer programming languages and has experience working and managing projects.
Still, there were a few mistakes in it that experts wouldn’t advise including if you’re working on your own resume. Here are four thingswith they say Gates was wrong.
It includes height, weight and dependents
Gates includes information that people today might find amusing.
“All personal information makes everyone laugh,” says Stacey Haller, career expert at ResumeBuilder.com. “He even has his dorm room number.”
He made sure to include his height, for example (5’10”), his weight (130 lbs), and his number of dependents (none). It’s probably not typical to include such details even then.
“There’s a lot of information here that we can’t even legitimately ask for in interviews,” says Angelina Darrisow, career coach and founder and CEO of C-Suite Coach, of all of the above.
When writing your own resume, it’s wise to leave such personal information.
He included previous salary
Gates included that his previous salary was $12,000 and in a section related to his desired salary, wrote “Open”.
You do not need to include these financial details in your resume. In fact, some cities legally prohibit employers from asking about previous salaries.
But once you’re called by a recruiter or hiring manager, be willing to discuss specific figures.
“You want to go into the interview process with some clear thoughts about the scope that’s appropriate for where you are in your level and your career,” Darrisow says. Search for titles similar to your intended role on sites like ZipRecruiter, LinkedIn, Monster, and Indeed and see what scope these positions offer to get an idea of what to ask for yourself.
The way Gates approaches salary on his resume, it’s not clear what he’s looking for. “I don’t know if that means he’s willing to take less, or wants to negotiate, or what it’s all about,” Haller says.
The format of his resume was unclear and difficult to scan
Gates’ paragraph formatting is somewhat clunky and makes it difficult to understand important information about his work. “It’s hard for me to know if this schoolwork wasn’t schoolwork,” says Haller. “I’m still not sure.”
Recruiters and HR professionals these days have very little time to devote to each resume. In fact, they spend an average of just 7.4 seconds on each initial check, according to a 2018 study by career site Ladders.
“So when you’re sharing your resume,” Dariso says, “you want to make sure it’s formatted in a way that’s easy for someone who’s taking maybe just a few minutes, if that, to appreciate some key things for you.”
Include a few-line summary of who you are and what your experience is at the top of the page. Instead of using chunks of text the way Gates does, under “experience,” write each job title clearly, then use bullet points to outline your responsibilities and accomplishments in that role. And write the dates you completed the work to the right of each heading.
He does not use persuasive wording
Gates could have used more specific language, Haller says, referring to his description of the work he did at TRW Systems Group from January to September 1973. Gates wrote that as a systems programmer he was “involved in file design and operating system modifications “.
“‘Involved with’ is kind of a meaningless word,” says Haller.
Use strong, active verbs to indicate the types of responsibilities you assumed for each position. For a leadership role, for example, Indeed recommends using words like “coach,” “delegate,” “direct,” “manage,” and “ensure.”
Despite these minor faults, what is clear in this autobiography is that Gates has always been good. “For someone who is in his first year at Harvard, he has a pretty significant amount of experience,” says Haller. “And that’s what someone will notice.”
Explore:
3 Resume Writing Strategies That Will “Instantly Impress” Any Hiring Manager, According to a Recruiting Expert
93% of employers want to see soft skills on your CV – here are 8 of the most sought after
Bill Gates plans to give away ‘almost all’ of his $113 billion – here’s the impact it could actually have
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