5 things you shouldn’t include on your Resume
Fixing your resume so that it’s the best it can be is so important so that it serves its purpose – being the best reflection of you. It gives potential employers their first impression of you, so it’s vital you make it a good one.
We think a lot about what we need to include on our resumes that we can sometimes get a little carried away, and end up sticking far too much info in there. Therefore it’s a good idea to understand some things you don’t need or shouldn’t put on there.
- A photograph
Unless you’re applying for a modelling or acting position, you don’t need a photograph. After all…you’re after a job, not a date! Don’t include things like physical attributes, regardless of how proud you are. It gives totally the wrong impression.
- Your email address from when you were 13
Full of kisses and your horrific nickname, it’s so important that you let that old email address go, regardless of how emotionally attached you are to it. Sticking to a simple and professional email address is recommended.
- Hobbies that serve no purpose
Hobbies are often seen as a way of filling up space on a resume, especially if you have little work experience or you don’t have too many qualifications. However, unless they have some relevance to the job you’re applying for, or are genuinely impressive (i.e. a high grade at an instrument or a high belt in martial arts) they won’t be of much interest to your potential employer. Instead, think about what message you want to convey about yourself to the employer, and how you can utilise your hobbies to do this in a concise way.
- Every single job you’ve ever had
You might have had a million and one jobs while you were at college and that’s great for you, but it may be pretty unnecessary to list them all on your resume. After all, your new employer is unlikely to look through them all in great detail. It’s a good idea to stick to summaries and to list skills and qualifications you gained from positions instead.
- Highly sensitive personal information
Things like your religious or political beliefs might be a really important part of your life and that’s great, and (within reason) potential employers aren’t legally allowed to hold them against you when it comes to employing you. However, it is advised to leave things like this off your resume as it’s not needed.
