15 Things You Should Never Include in Your Resume

Here are 15 things on “What not to put on a resume” and some resume tips along the way:

• Irrelevant Personal Information: Many people still make the mistake of adding unnecessary personal details such as their marital status, ages, sex, or religious affiliation. Such information is outdated and irrelevant to your professional qualifications; in fact, such information could even create biases. Only your name, cell phone number, email address, and LinkedIn should be there. 

• A Generic Objective Statement: Actually, a generic objective statement is better not to use at all; instead, you should write a summary or profile about your qualifications. The employer wants to know what you can do for them, not what you want to do. A resume tip here would be to tailor your summary to the job for which you are applying. 

• Too Much Job History: You don't need to include every job you have ever had. Having relevant experience is what matters. If you're applying for a marketing role, your job in a fast-food restaurant would be of no importance. For a clean resume that makes an impact, limit work history to 10-15 years. 

• Salary Information: Believe it or not, one of the biggest mistakes job seekers make is including salary history on their resumes. Salary history should never be in your resume unless the employer asks for it. If you're thinking about what not to put on a resume, definitely put salary history on the list. It's a private detail that reiterates nothing on your qualifications.

• Irrelevant Interests and Hobbies: Listing hobbies shows a bit of your personality; however, time and space are wasted on hobbies unrelated to the job. Tips for a resume would be to include hobbies that mention transferable skills: leadership, communication, management, and teamwork; this is especially helpful when you may not yet have much work history.

• Too Many Buzzwords and Jargons: Those of us on the receiving end of resume readings can attest to the turnover word counts: "synergy," "innovative," "dynamic," and "unparalleled" are thrown around with abandonment. Unless your claims can be substantiated, stay away from words clanging in the wind. Instead, here's what a resume should carry: tangible achievements that head your claims. 

• Unsubstantiated Achievements: Lies about or fabricated achievements constitute a devastating error. Most likely, any prospective employer will check references, and any distortion or misrepresentation can be uncovered as a consequence. Risking credibility over the fact that you achieved something in between your lies is simply unworthy: be truthful. 

• References: Do not put references down in the resume. That space should better be used for describing your skills and experience. State that "References are available upon request". The resume writing tip here: prepare your references in advance, so they are current and ready to speak for you once necessary.

• A Photograph of Yourself: Put simply, it is considered quite unprofessional to attach a photograph to your resume unless explicitly requested by a prospective employer. The unspoken implication in many countries could be said to amount to an influencing attempt toward hiring decisions on the basis of looks after the merit of an applicant. Focus in your resume on does-fit-into-a-resume material: your skills and experiences.

• Personal Pronouns: Among common resume mistakes is writing using the personal pronouns "I" and "me." Being cleaner and professional involves using the language structure in the third person. Instead of "I led a team," consider "Led a team." This lends a sense of objectivity and impact to your accomplishment. 

• Overly Complex or Decorative Fonts: For clarity, consider Arial or Calibri. Avoid elaborate or decorative typefaces, as these can interfere with readability and might be bypassed by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Remember: between 10 and 12 points font size is appropriate for body text so as not to hinder legibility.

• Too Much Personal Detail: Your resume should focus on your professional qualifications. Do not mention anything about your family situation or your pets. On the contrary, give the employers a snapshot of your skills, accomplishments, and how you identify with the job they're seeking.

• Overuse of Color or Graphics: Like many things, colors and graphics may attract the user's attention, thus distracting them from the actual content of the resume. In an industry such as marketing or design where creativity is considered a value, this might be allowed. Keeping your resume straightforward and professional is paramount for any other role. Resume tip: Content over design unless it's a visually driven industry.

• Inconsistent Formatting: Inconsistency in formatting reflects rather poorly on the resume-it really comes across as unprofessional. Have a uniform font style and size and uniform header styles. Make sure your text is aligned properly and bullet points are used consistently for listing key information. Clear and easy-to-read formatting is one of the main do's and don'ts of resume writing.

  
  

• Outdated Skills: Only list skills that are current and relevant. Old, obsolete skills, such as fax machine operation, would be a turnoff, and so would tools and software that simply don't pertain anymore. As time goes on and technology changes, it's good to put emphasis on the present and relevant skill set: those being tools or software programs that are commonly used in your industry.

Here are some tips on writing your resume to keep you from making any mistakes regarding the length: 

• One- to two-page maximum: For most applicants, a one-page resume is ideal, especially when work experience does not go beyond 10-15 years. If you have vast experience, this length can diverge to two pages. Take these resume tips to account for brevity. 

• Make it relevant: Only include details most pertinent to the position you are applying for. Irrelevant experience will fill your resume and might appear longer than necessary. This is one of the key points on what not to put on a resume. 

• Avoid repetition: Never mention the same duties for every job you have had. Rather, emphasize unique accomplishments for each position. This do's and don'ts of resume writing can be greatly beneficial to you. 

• Outdated Data: If you have passed the early career stages, do not list all jobs you have ever had. Limit yourself to work history for about 10 to 15 years, or to jobs pertinent to the position. What to include in a resume is as important as what not to put on a resume.

Resume tip: Check the resume length and, if too long or too short, focus on key achievements and responsibilities aligning with the job description. You must Check Resume Score before submitting your job application.

The key to a resume standing out is creativity; however, an awkward format can hinder one's chances. Several job seekers fall into the trap of throwing in flashy designs that seem to go against the do’s and don'ts of resume. Here are some resume tips to keep your design neat and functional:

• ATS incompatibility: Many companies use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to sift through resumes. Layouts that are too complex or graphic-oriented tend to make life difficult for ATS, so the resume is discarded. So, this is what you don't want on a resume if your resume has to be presented in front of a hiring manager.

• Hard to read: These creative layouts may evoke that good first impression but at the expense of easy readability. It is important for employers to efficiently scan through resumes to determine whether you are a suitable match for the job. Keeping this in mind should give you a clue into what not to put on a resume. 

• Lack of professionalism: In more conservative industries (such as finance or law) a loud resume can be considered unprofessional or distasteful. You want to adhere to those resume tips that emphasize maintaining a more professional aura in your resume design. 

Resume tip: Keep designs clean and professional. Using a simple font style that's easy on the eyes will greatly help your cause. Avoid heavy graphic usage unless of course you are applying for an artistic role like a graphic designer.

Among all standing out factors for your resume, the most relevant keywords are one. These keywords are vital for attracting attention after the ATS and hiring managers. Here is a brief description of what to include in a resume and why it should focus on the right keywords: 

• Match job descriptions: Job descriptions ought to be studied carefully, picking out key terms, skills, and qualifications that the employer wants. Exactly using the right keywords is among the resume writing tips that may set your resume apart. 

• Industry-specific language: Use industry-specific terms that truly show how well you understand the job. For instance, if you are into tech, terms such as Agile, JavaScript, or cloud computing can really make your resume pop. 

• Avoid keyword stuffing: Using resume keywords in your resume is crucial in the times of ATS, but avoid keyword stuffing. Make sure the keywords appear natural in your job descriptions and skills section. 

Resume tip: Check out multiple job descriptions of the same rank to pick out common keywords to align your resume with what employers are looking for. Hence, your knowledge will assist you with exactly what not to put on a resume and what to include in a resume. You can use the Resume Keywords tool by mployee.me. This tool gives the relevant keywords that can be added in the resume. It will also tell you the keywords to be removed.

If you are just starting out into the workforce or just changing your field of interest, you will probably have limited work experience. The right resume writing tips will facilitate the creation of an impressive resume, so here is what to include in a resume:

• Emphasize transferable skills: Emphasize those skills in which you may have gained from other areas of life, maybe even voluntary actions, working in internships, and part-time jobs. Something universal that would always be desired in a resume is the ability to communicate, leadership, and problem-solving skills. Essentials on what to include in a resume for those with little to no work experience.

• Focus on relevant coursework: If the professional experience that you can show is sparse, focus on coursework, projects, or certifications that relate to the job and qualify you for it; this strategy is better than not knowing when to omit resale content. 

• Include extracurricular activities: To enhance your skills portfolio, you can include community service, slub sports, and other related activities that showcase your teamwork skills, leadership skills, problem-solving skills, etc. 

• Focus on accomplishments: Highlight accomplishments over responsibilities wherever possible. If you can, quantify achievements for added impact (e.g., "Increased social media engagement by 30%").

Resume tip: With limited experience, you must orient the focus on convincing them of your potential contributions to their organization, rather than filling the resume with a history of jobs.