Your resume is basically your first (and sometimes only) shot at impressing on a potential employer your job worthiness. If you don’t have it right, then you are shooting yourself in the foot during a job search, and wasting your time. There is a lot of information out there regarding what you need to have on your resume (work experience, education, etc.). Compiling and listing that information is often the main focus when it comes to building an effective resume, but what many people may not realize is that what you leave out of your resume is just as important as what you include in it. Here are five things you should leave off your resume:
Identifying characteristics. Of course, you must include your contact information, but anything else that might indicate your gender, race, age, religious preferences, or political affiliations should be left out of your resume. Although it is illegal for employers to discriminate against you based on these characteristics, listing these makes you susceptible to this type of discrimination before you even get in the door for an interview.
Interest and hobbies. This standard resume filler is really only necessary if you have involvements outside of work that specifically relate to the job you are applying for. For example, if you are applying as a veterinary assistant, then your love of horseback riding and your membership in the 4H club are relevant – however, your experience as a salsa dancer is not.
Self-assessments. Avoid listing subjective opinions of yourself, such as “creative problem solver” and “dynamic leader.” Employers rarely take these for face value, as many people’s self-assessments can be considerably inaccurate. Instead use tangible, objective examples to illustrate the qualities you wish to express.
References. Don’t waste resume space listing your references. Employers will ask for those when they are ready for them, and they will specify what kind of references they need. A simple, “references available upon request” will suffice.
Pictures. Including a picture of yourself on a resume may be tempting, as you may think it makes your resume more appealing. However, the opposite is true. Many employers find this practice, which is surprisingly widespread, to be distracting, unnecessary, and off-putting.
When creating your resume, keep in mind that there are just as many “don’ts” as there are “do’s.” Just as with anything else you do in life, what you leave out is just as important as what you choose to reveal, so keep these tips in mind when you put your next resume together in order to avoid turning employers away when you really mean to pull them in.
About the Author: Albertine Morquecho is a full-time writer with a passion for helping others obtain work. She specializes in writing resumes and in her spare time focuses on natural beauty products, organic makeup, and alternative medicine.
