What not to say
Omitting these things can make resume more effective
Choosing what to include and exclude from your resume can be difficult, especially for applicants who do not have extensive work histories. Professionals who have a significant amount of work experience likely have enough to fill up a resume, but younger professionals with limited work histories often fret about how to fill up their resumes.
Any relevant professional experience, be it an internship or volunteer history, is safe to include on a resume. But applicants should keep the following items off their resumes as they hunt for their next job.
PHOTOS
Photos should be kept off resumes because personal photos have nothing to do with a person’s qualifications. Even job seekers who are applying for a position as a photographer shouldn’t put photos on their resumes. Such materials should be included in a portfolio — never on a resume.
HOBBIES & PERSONAL INTERESTS
It can be tempting for applicants who have limited work histories to list their hobbies and interests, but in many cases, such information is irrelevant and can even frustrate hiring managers who want to find relevant qualifications on a resume as quickly as possible. If a resume is bogged down with information about an applicant’s hobbies and interests, a hiring manager is likely to grow impatient and move on to the next applicant. Unless a hobby is especially relevant to a position, it should not be included on a resume.
IRRELEVANT PAST EXPERIENCE
Prior experience that is irrelevant to the position you’re applying for should be kept off your resume. For example, a high school job as a grocery clerk likely has little relevance when applying for an entry-level finance position. It’s important to remember that when applying for entry-level positions, few entry-level candidates will have extensive employment histories, so don’t feel bad if your resume is less than meaty.
SALARY EXPECTATIONS
Some job postings will ask that you list salary requirements. This can be a delicate topic, as no one wants to exclude themselves by asking for too much money or appear desperate by asking for too little. A good approach when asked for salary requirements is simply to write, “Salary negotiable” somewhere on your resume. Never include salary requirements unless a job listing specifically requests such information.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Personal information, including marital status, sexual orientation, whether or not you have children and your religious beliefs should always be kept off a resume. Such information is irrelevant, and it’s illegal for companies to consider such information during the hiring process.
INAPPROPRIATE EMAIL ADDRESS
Many people have a playful email address that reflects a nickname that friends and family can identify with. Such addresses are fine when communicating with family and friends, but use a more professional email address when applying for jobs. The address can include your name, such as jsmith@fakeemail.com, or simply your initials followed by the domain name of your email server. Fair or unfair, an unprofessional email address on a resume may give prospective employers the impression that an applicant is immature.