Avoid Putting These Things On Your Job Resume

While most articles will tell you what to include on your resume, we will focus on those small details that you should refrain from showing your potential employers. By removing this irrelevant information from your resume, you will allow the best of yourself to shine through to your interviewer/recruiter.

Headshots

Pictures distract the hiring manager from looking at what’s important: your qualifications. A resume is supposed to highlight your goals, career accomplishments, and how you can provide value to the company you are interviewing for. You do not want your potential employer to disqualify you solely based on your appearance.

Salary

It is not necessary to include your current or past salary. Your employer should be able to determine your value by analyzing your effectiveness at your previous jobs through past job experience. Sticking a price tag on yourself could prove to be more detrimental than helpful.

Typos And Grammatical Errors

Many employers want to be 100% sure that they are hiring someone who is qualified and dependable. If your resume is littered with typos and grammatical errors, it shows that: 1) you are not qualified; 2) you lack the ability to pay attention to even small details; and 3) you did not take the time to analyze your work for mistakes. Even one little mistake can cause you to be overlooked, despite your qualifications or previous job experience.

Irrelevant Information

While writing your resume, you should ask yourself if the information you include is pertinent to the job you are applying for. Time is very precious–you don’t want to waste any of your potential employer’s time by feeding them information that will not help them make a decision on whether to invite you for an interview or not. Have a friend, family member, a professor, or even a professional in your industry of choice look it over!

Social Media

When it comes to social media, you are better off leaving your online profiles in the digital realm. Even if you don’t include these profiles, you should take steps to maintain your personal branding online. However, if it is a profile such as a LinkedIn account, Cofoundr, or other social network dedicated to professional networking, and is relevant to your job, feel free to include it.

Generic, Overused Terms

Proving to an employer how hard of a worker you are by highlighting your goals and accomplishments is a much better way to impress them than explicitly stating that you are a “hard worker.” More than likely, the person looking at your resume will not know anything about you–show them what you are all about and give them a great first impression!

Questionable Personal Information

It’s illegal for employers to question you about your personal life such as your age, religious or spiritual beliefs, sexuality, or marital status–therefore, you are better off leaving this information off of your resume. Including such information could cause the recruiter to toss your resume away, based on their own personal views.

Wrong Or Inappropriate Contact Information

Make sure your contact information is correct and up-to-date. Otherwise, you might miss the phone call back that you were waiting for for so long. Also, include an email address that is professional or appropriate to your job; SarahJohnson225@email.com is a much better choice than NYCcutie110@yahoo.com to put on your resume.

Hopefully, avoiding these mistakes can help you land an interview with the company of your choice. The interview is where you get to show your personality and why you are the perfect person for the position. Good luck!