Irrelevant work experiences
Yes, you might’ve been the “king of making milkshakes” at the restaurant you worked for in high school.
But, unless you’re planning on redeeming that title, it’s time to get rid of all that clutter.
Personal stuff
Don’t include your marital status, religious preference, or social security number. This might have been the standard in the past, but all of this information is now illegal for your employer to ask you, so there’s no need to include it.
Your hobbies
Nobody cares. If it’s not relevant to the job you’re applying for, then it’s a waste of space and a waste of the company’s time.
References
If your employers want to speak to your references, they’ll ask you. Also, it’s better if you have a chance to tell your references ahead of time that a future employer might be calling. If you write, “references upon request” at the bottom of your resume, you’re merely wasting a valuable line.
Personal pronouns
Don’t write your resume in the third or first person. It’s understood that everything on your resume is about you and your experiences.
A less than professional email account
If you still use an old email address which doesn’t look professional it’s time to pick a new one. It only takes a minute or two, and it’s free. Email Id which involves your professional name is advisable.
Your current business contact info
This is not only dangerous, it’s stupid. Do you really want employers calling you at work? How are you going to handle that? Oh, and by the way, your current employer can monitor your emails and phone calls. So if you’re not in the mood to get fired, or potentially charged with theft of services (really), then leave the business info off.
Social media URLs unrelated to the targeted position
Links to your opinionated blogs, Pinterest page, or Instagram account have no business taking up prime resume real estate. Candidates who tend to think their personal social media sites are valuable are putting themselves at risk of landing in the ‘no’ pile. But you should list relevant URLs, such as your LinkedIn page or any others that are professional and directly relate to the position you are trying to acquire.
Salary information
Some people include past hourly rates for jobs they held in college. This information is completely unnecessary and may send the wrong message. You also shouldn’t address your desired salary in a resume. This document is intended to showcase your professional experience and skills. Salary comes later in the interview process.
Outdated fonts
Don’t use Times New Roman and serif fonts, as they’re outdated and old-fashioned. Use a standard, sans-serif font like Arial. Also, be aware of the font size. Your goal should be to make it look nice and sleek — but also easy to read.
Annoying buzzwords
What resume terms are the biggest turnoffs?” Words and phrases such as, “best of breed,” “go-getter,” “think outside the box,” “synergy,” and “people pleaser.” are the biggest turn-offs as it’s not professional at all. Terms employers do like to see on resumes include: “achieved,” “managed,” “resolved,” and “launched” — but only if they’re used in moderation.
Reasons why you left a company
Often, candidates think, If I explain why I left the position on my resume, maybe my chances will improve. Wrong! Listing why you left is irrelevant on your resume. It’s not the time or place to bring up transitions from one company to the next. Use your interview to address this.
A photo of yourself
This may become the norm at some point in the future, but it’s just weird (and tacky and distracting) for the time being.
