Sometimes, you can’t help but wonder why you didn’t get a call back from a recent job interview. It could be your dream job, so not hearing back about it can be disappointing. However, you might be fishing with the wrong bait. This means that your resume might have information, specifically skills, that didn’t impress and need not be there.

According to a report by CareerBuilder, three out of four full-time employees are still open or actively searching for a new job opportunity. Hence, job competition is still tight and work opportunities can be scarce. Also, one out of four applicants doesn’t get any response from more than 75% of the applications they send.

Therefore, in a fierce job market, it is important to know what skills on your resume are negatively affecting your applications. There are a number of skills that you should not put on your resume because they tend to correlate with lower pay across the board. Also, they do your resume disservice, such that hiring managers and employers might not even respond to you because of them. By knowing which skills to leave off your resume, you can boost your chances of landing your dream job.

20. Microsoft Office

No applicant should ever list knowledge of Microsoft Office as a skill on their resume. In this day and age where almost every job requires operating a computer, this is an expected skill. Moreover, putting it on your resume doesn’t put emphasis on your capabilities and it won’t make your resume pop.

On the other hand, what you can put are more specific computer skills like C# programming or UI/UX design. This shows better competency. Also, there is a lot of demand for specific software skills, so letting the employer know about your computer competency will make your resume look stronger.

19. Typing

Just like Microsoft Office knowledge, typing is a basic skill set that is expected from almost everyone. If you are looking for a job, putting this on your resume will not help impress anyone. It is so common that this skill need not be stated anymore. Also, typing is already taught in school even during the early years. Hence, everyone is expected to know this without even saying it.

Putting this on your resume will not make it more noticeable. If you have other more specific and special computer knowledge like photo or video editing, putting those on your resume would be better.

18. Document Preparation

Knowledge of document preparation is a simple and basic skill. It is best not to put this on your resume so as not to do a disservice to your application. It is such a basic skill that it will not add glamor on your resume. It might even be a reason for employers not to call back because it doesn’t make your application special.

For something relevant to document preparation, you can include specific technologies that only a few people know. This way, you can make your resume shine brighter.

17. Online Research

As basic as typing and document preparation, online research is a skill that is too common and simple. Most of the time, this can be done by simply going to Google, which is something that even most children know how to do these days. However, there are times when research might require more than that, so it is best to indicate the specific process rather than just putting “online research” on your resume. You can include something like data mining or big data research to be more specific. Putting these skills will be more helpful in getting your resume noticed as only a few people are knowledgeable about these research practices.

16. Bookkeeping

Bookkeeping is the process of keeping records of the financial status of a business. This skill is often required from an accountant and it is very specific. Hence, if you are applying for that position, it is unnecessary to include it on your resume. If you are a certified public accountant, it is expected that you have this knowledge. Again, like other skills that don’t differentiate you from other applicants, it can hurt your application more than it can help if you put it on your resume. So, it’s better to skip this when creating your resume.

15. Administration

Administration is a broad skill so you don’t need to put it on your resume as it is. Putting it on your resume doesn’t help to differentiate you from other applicants so it is better to include more specific administration skills instead. For instance, if you are more experienced as a virtual assistant and you have knowledge about setting appointments and addressing other needs of your boss, it’s a much better idea to include those. This will help the hiring manager see why they should obtain your services.

14. Property Management

Property management is a skill where one operates, controls and oversees real estate. It is a very specific skill, hence it is required for very specific jobs. This means that when applying for these jobs, you don’t need to include property management as a skill since it doesn’t add value to your resume. It is an expected skill, which means it isn’t required to be stated on your resume anymore.

13. Collections

Collections is a specific skill for a specific job. So, if you are applying for this job, you don’t have to put this skill on your resume anymore because the employer expects that you are an expert, or if not, at least experienced with collections.

This skill is usually required to get other businesses to pay their debts to the business that you will be working with. Usually, the person who will do this job will have an accountancy background.

12. Paying Invoices

The other side of collections, paying invoices is also not a special skill. You don’t have to put it on your resume because, like collections, it is simple and will not make your resume pop. Usually, this is required from assistants or accounting staff so if you are vying for either job, it is expected of you without putting it on your resume. In a way, it is an implied requirement so you’d be better off just leaving it out.

It’s much better to include skills like SaaS knowledge, which can be relevant to both collections and paying invoices.

11. Packaging

Packaging is a manual and/or automated process of enclosing or protecting products prior to distribution, storage, sale and use. Sometimes, it can be a coordinated system of preparing products for transport, warehousing, sale and end use.

Although there are certain industries that require this as a skill, you don’t need to include it on your resume because it is a basic skill. It is easy to learn and doesn’t require any special knowledge to do. Even without expert training, anyone can easily do this, which is why putting it on your resume will not make it special. Instead of simply putting “packaging”, you can put a more a specific advanced packaging technology that you have experience with.

10. Shipping

Another trivial skill that should have no space on your resume is shipping. It complements packaging, and it is as trivial as they come. It is not a specialized skill so there is no need to include it on your resume. Moreover, as a manual skill that can be easily learned, it is quite common, which is why employers won’t be impressed by it. If you have ever wrapped a Christmas gift, you have some experience with packaging. If you include this on your resume, you’re essentially admitting to your potential employers that you have no other relevant skills to include.

9. Plumbing

Plumbing is a specific manual skill for handymen. It is a skill that you don’t need to put on your resume since it is something expected of you if this is the job you are vying for. It is not a special skill so it’s best to just skip it. If there are special or newer technologies with regard to plumbing, you can put those instead. Moreover, if you have experience with newer plumbing machines, then you can include those too. Best to put something more specific to make your resume stand out rather than keeping it too general.

8. Computer Hardware Technician

Computer hardware technician is more of a specific job rather than a skill. Actually, it involves a lot of other skills, which will look better on your resume if you can specify them. The term computer hardware technician is too broad so it will be difficult for hiring managers to determine the value of this as a skill. Much like plumbing, it is better to have more detailed skills rather than this very broad one.

If you simply put this as a skill, it may make your resume suffer rather than stand out. When creating your resume, especially when filling out the skills, the more specific the value it adds, the better.

7. Data Entry

Data entry is a skill that should not be put in your resume because it is so simple and so common. Also, it does not show that you have any special knowledge if you put it on your resume. It is basically copying data and inputting it on a file. Therefore, this copy and paste skill will not make your resume more noticeable. Also, this skill is somewhat expected so it doesn’t help to state it on your resume.

6. Call Center

Call center skill is a specific skill, but still easy to learn and very common. There is a specific industry for this, which means that if you are applying for a job in this field, you need not put that you have call center skills because that is required. Basically, call center skill is having the ability to talk to customers and address their concerns. It is not a special skill so better leave it off your resume.

If you want to stand out in this job application, you’re better off putting special computer automation skills. If you can also include leadership experience, then that would appear better on your resume.

5. Customer Service

Similar to call center skills, customer service is another skill that you should not include on your resume. The two are almost identical as they deal with talking to clients and addressing their concerns. It is a basic skill so you don’t need to put it on your resume. It would be best to identify specific customer service knowledge or technologies that you are familiar with. Those skills are the ones that can help best when you include them on your resume.

4. Phone Support

Going hand in hand with call center and customer service, phone support is also a trivial skill that doesn’t need to be included on your resume. It is not a specialized skill that will impress hiring managers and employers. Since almost all of us know how to operate a phone, it basically is an intrinsic skill. What you can put instead are specific support skills that hiring managers and employers will find valuable. For instance, if you have technical support knowledge for specific products, you can include those on your resume instead. Moreover, if you have management experience or expertise to handle a team, putting that might add more value than just putting phone support.

3. Delphi

Delphi is an ancient programming language that doesn’t deserve to be included in your skill set on your resume. Since it is a bit old, putting it on your resume will make it look like your skill set is outdated. Hence, instead of making your resume look better, this can be a reason for employers not to call back. So, even if you have a skill for this, better to include newer programming languages and technologies. If needed, you can possibly say you have knowledge about Delphi during the interview. Moreover, you can also include this in case the job specifically required knowledge for this programming language to get hired.

2. WordPress

Although knowledge of WordPress might seem valuable today due to the popularity of blogging, a lot of people are already familiar with it. Therefore, putting WordPress simply as a skill will not differentiate you from thousands of other applicants. What you can put instead is specific WordPress technologies or expertise that you know of so that those who are looking to hire you can see if you are really a fit for the job.

Moreover, it might be helpful to show a portfolio instead of simply putting WordPress as a skill. WordPress is a flexible platform so showing them what you can do with it or how you can help their business with your skills on the platform is way better than just listing WordPress as a skill.

1. Filing

Filing is the job skill with the greatest negative correlation in relation to pay. This skill is so common that putting it on your resume doesn’t set you apart from other applicants, and may even tarnish your application. Apparently, employers expect filing as an implied skill. This skill is so basic that employers expect applicants to already know this without putting it on their resume. Moreover, this skill doesn’t require a lot of special knowledge to accomplish. Hence, putting it on your resume will not make yours stand out from the pool of applicants.