Knowing what to put on a resume can sometimes be easier than knowing what to leave off your resume. The ways resumes are looked at now are different than 10 years ago or even 2 years ago. Below is a list of 6 things you should LEAVE OFF your Resume.
1. A Photograph of Yourself
The only exception to this is a model or actor. Employers do not want to be accused of discrimination. “If you include a photo of yourself with your resume, the employer now knows roughly how old you are; has a general idea of your ethnic background, and can see if you’re attractive, overweight or suffering from an obvious disability,” HowStuffWorks explains.
2. Personal Information
The explanation for this one is the same as a photo of yourself. Don’t list your height, weight, birth date, sex, religion, political affiliation, or place of birth.
3. References
It is not necessary to put your references on your resume. Instead, put this on a separate document and send it to the employer if asked or it is written in the job requirement. Don’t forget to let your references know that they might be getting contacted so they are prepared.
4. GPA – if Low
Only list your GPA if it is higher than 3.3/4.0. The Balance Careers states that you should “only bring academic achievement to the recruiter’s attention if it is an area of strength. There is no point in trying to impress a hiring manager with something that is not impressive.”
5. An Objective Statement
Objective statements are a thing of the past. You should show an employer what you can do for them, not what you want them to do for you. Instead, include a summary statement.
6. Hobbies and Interests – If They’re Irrelevant
Recruiters and hiring managers don’t really care what you do in your free time at the beginning of your hiring process. If your hobby is something related to the job then it is okay to include. “If it’s for a finance job, for example, mentioning that you like to dabble in cryptocurrency investing can be seen as a plus. But if you’re trying to land a medical research assistant role, don’t bother,” CNBC points out.
Check out our blog post ‘How to Write a Perfect Resume’ for what you should be including on your resume like a summary statement.
If you already have a perfect resume or recently created one check out our job openings here.
You can also explore our other blog posts for tips and tricks on everything related to the job world!
