What you should not include in a resume if you want to get hired
Olivia Attwood
Certified Professional Resume Writer ● Career Coach ● Executive Resume Writer ● MBA, BEng, CPRW, CPCC
Removing these unnecessary things from your resume right away will get you the best results for your job search.
If your resume contains everything but the kitchen sink when it faces the six-second resume test, hiring managers will immediately be compelled to send you to the no pile. So, how do you ensure that your resume passes the six-second resume test and gets shortlisted? You can make sure that your resume contains only the most important and most recent skills, experiences, and accomplishments.
Your resume needs to beat the bots and impress the humans
In today's competitive job market, most mid and large-scale employers receive more than 250 applications for each open position. A majority of employers use applicant tracking systems or ATSs to screen applications and eliminate those who are not qualified. Only 25% of applications make it through the ATS because they are optimized for the bots. Let's say that your resume made it through the ATS. It now needs to impress a human hiring manager. This is why it's important to optimize your resume for both bots as well as humans.
Keep in mind that less is more
When writing a resume, length is not everything. You are not trying to create a long document that shows off your entire career history. You are creating a concise marketing document that highlights your biggest selling points. This means that there are things that should not be included in your resume. Let's take a look at what they are and how you can improve your resume by removing them.
An unprofessional e-mail address
Removing things from your resume starts at the top. If your contact information section contains an inappropriate e-mail address, there's a high chance that the hiring manager will not have a favorable opinion of you. Instead, use a professional e-mail address that contains your first and last names. You should also avoid using work emails and university emails.
Your full physical address
Hiring managers no longer need to know where you live exactly. Therefore, you do not need to include your street address on your resume. Simply list your city and your state. If you are planning to relocate for your job, or if you're looking for a job in a specific geographical location, it is better to include the zip code of that location on your resume.
Outdated and irrelevant social media profiles
You don't need to mention all your social media profiles on your resume if they are not related to the job for which you are applying. If you have shared content relevant to your target job title through your social media, you can include their links on your resume. However, if your social media does not promote your personal brand or demonstrate why you're qualified for the job, you don't need to add them to your resume.
An objective statement
Do you have a four-line long objective statement on your resume that just explains why you are writing the document? Objective statements went out of style on resumes years ago because they are most often redundant. Unless you are applying for an academic position, you do not need to have a resume objective.
Irrelevant personal details
Certain personal information like your Social Security number, marital status, nationality, spiritual beliefs, race, etc. do not belong on your resume. In fact, in certain states, it's illegal for employers to ask for these personal details when you're applying for a job. If you want to avoid discrimination, it is better to leave out personal information from your resume.
A headshot
In certain parts of the world, it is customary for a resume to carry a headshot. However, that is not the case in the US. Here, we normally do not include a snapshot of the applicant when creating a resume. However, you may need to consider adding a photograph to your resume if you're applying for a job in modeling, acting, or performance arts where your physical appearance matters.
Buzzwords that do not add any value
Many job seekers make the mistake of including too many buzzwords on their resume in an attempt to show that they are relevant to the industry. However, most buzzwords rarely add any value to your resume. Instead of buzzwords, you should include relevant keywords in your resume. That way, you will be more appreciated by the ATS as well as the hiring manager.
Spelling mistakes and grammatical errors
We have spoken with several recruiters who have told us that spelling mistakes and grammatical errors on a resume send a negative first impression. Although your language capabilities are not put to the test when applying for a job, it is better to ensure that your resume is free of all errors before you start sending it out. We recommend proofreading your resume several times before emailing it. You can also get a printout of your resume to look for formatting errors.
A long work history
Did you know that you only need to mention the last 10 to 15 years of work on your resume? While having a career history of more than 20 years in a certain industry is an impressive thing, older professionals tend to face discrimination during the hiring process. One of the easiest ways to avoid this is to stick to a window of the last 10 to 15 years when adding experience to your resume.
A list of references
You do not need to provide references at the first stage of the hiring process. That is because references are not necessary at this stage of the application process and will end up taking up a lot of valuable resume space. Most employers will contact you further down the hiring process to inquire about your references.
Does this all seem a bit too much to handle for you at the moment? We totally understand the frustration of having to deal with job search documentation on top of a job hunt. Things can get even tougher if you are currently employed full-time. So, why not let a certified professional resume writer from?www.resumemansion.com ?take care of your resume while you devote your free time to your job search?