What to leave out of your cutting-edge resume

Whether this is your first resume or the first one you’ll get right, there are a few things that SHOULD NOT go on your resume. These items may seem obvious to some, but I’ve seen the mistakes made too many times to discount anything.

From college students as well as professionals, I’ve seen too many resume’s that resemble some Facebook pages… they are sharing waaaay too much personal information! I guess on a Facebook page it’s a matter of opinion but on a resume personal information is a no-no. If you want your resume to be cutting-edge in today’s cut-throat job market – you might strive to make it personal, but not to share personal information. Never include details such as your birth date, social security number, driver’s license number, etc. Some of this information may be needed later in an interview or hiring process, but it shouldn’t be included on your resume.

You also shouldn’t include any personal information such as your marital status, number of children, etc. You’d excluding information like this, not in an effort to hide anything but because it should have no bearing on the requirements for the job and could in some circumstances negatively influence the final decision.

Lastly, I suggest you leave off jobs that you’ve worked that didn’t have a real job description or jobs that are irrelevant unless they can be used to highlight a special talent or skill. For example, you may have worked informally with a friend or family member, but in the process got to show off skills relevant to the job (design skills, leadership skills, communication skills, etc.). You could include those by focusing on the talent or skill displayed as opposed to the job description.

Right off the top, these are three things I can think of that will help you when looking for that job after graduation – or any time for that matter. Any more suggestions?

What to leave out of your CUTTING-EDGE RESUME

1. Personally identification such as birth date, social security number, driver license number
2. Personal information such as marital status and number of children
3. Irrelevant or informal jobs

Here’s to being ready for the job market!

Marja Lee
The Employment Lady

About the Author: Marja Lee Freeman (18 Posts)

Marja Lee Freeman (aka ‘The Employment Lady’) speaks with authority on the job search process and its pitfalls. She is an expert on employment issues: job search strategies, discovering the right job for you, employment trends, workplace conflict, and dealing with day-to-day employment dilemmas they don’t teach at school.