Guest Author - Kristen Welcome
We all know there are things your resume must include, such as your work and educational history, and any accolades that might sway a hiring manager in your favor. However, there are a number of things that new job seekers frequently include on a resume that simply don’t belong there. Here are a few things to avoid.
1. Your photo.
Unless you are an actor or a model, your picture should not be included with your resume. Not only does it appear unprofessional, but if you are particularly young (or particularly experienced), your photo may invite age discrimination before a hiring manager has even taken a good look at your resume.
2. Your age, ethnicity, religion or political affiliation.
There’s no reason to disclose this information on a resume. Not only are these things simply none of the hiring manager’s business, and unprofessional to include on a resume, it can also appear that you are attempting to fill space with information that is unrelated to the job you are seeking.
This does not mean that you should take special efforts to hide these details if they naturally should appear in your work experience, however. For instance, if you did relevant work for a political party, served on a church committee to perform volunteer work, or chaired a group to support civil rights for minorities, these are excellent work experiences and should still be included on your resume if they involved skills that are relevant to your current job search.
3. Health
A few decades ago, you may have seen people including details such as “Health: excellent” on their resumes. Today this is not an appropriate addition to your resume. It would be inappropriate for a hiring manager to discriminate against you due to illness or physical challenges, or in an attempt to keep company insurance costs down. If you are physically capable of performing the job duties, no more information should be needed by a hiring manager in this regard.
4. Hobbies
Usually, hobbies have no bearing on your job skills, and therefore have no place on a resume. Occasionally, job seekers will include hobbies on their resume that they believe they have in common with the hiring manager. However, even the most fervent enthusiast for your favorite hobby, if they are also active in human resources, will recognize that your hobbies do not belong on your resume and will consider it a mark of naiveté and inexperience. Additionally, it should be remembered that your resume will likely be reviewed by multiple people with decision-making authority within the company, many of whom will have no interest in your hobby.
5. High school information
In some English-speaking countries, it is common to include all of your educational background on a resume, including high school diplomas and grades. In the United States, however, it is considered inappropriate to include your high school experience on a resume unless you have graduated from high school recently and have little work experience. Once a job seeker has had some education past high school, or significant employment after high school, it is usually not necessary or wise to include high school experiences on a resume.
6. Information about marital status or parenthood
Not only does this information not belong on a resume, but hiring managers are forbidden from inquiring about your marital status during an interview. There is no reason to provide the hiring manager with information they are not permitted to ask.
7. Explanations or excuses
Your resume must convey a sense of confidence in your skills and abilities. Your application materials should never apologize for things you may believe are lacking in your education or skill set. Instead, focus on your strengths and what you have to offer an employer.
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