It's never easy to figure out what to put on your résumé. What will
that one line be that hooks the hiring manager? Will the way it's
formatted affect the decision? You may think that it's safer to err on
the side of including more, but if you load your résumé with unnecessary
fluff, it could guarantee your place in the reject pile.
Here are five things you should consider leaving off of your résumé:
1. Objective statement: Objective statements, which
usually start with, "I'm looking for a job that..." have long been
considered passé. Employers aren't reviewing your résumé to find out
what you want in a job; they want the résumé to tell them why they
should want you. If you're going to include a statement at the top, make
it a personal summary that acts as a condensed version of your elevator
pitch. It should touch on your top skills and any major achievements
worth highlighting.
2. References available upon request: Including a
list of references or the statement, "References available upon
request," isn't necessary, because it's expected that you have
references, should an employer request them.
Instead of taking up valuable space, create a separate document that
lists your references and their contact information, and have it ready
to email or hand out as needed.
3. Outdated or irrelevant information: Résumés are
about quality, not quantity. Hiring managers don't have time to read
through three pages' worth of positions held, dating back to when you
were a dog sitter in high school. Consider removing any experience that
is more than a decade old, especially if it's not applicable to the
position for which you're applying. Focus instead on experience and
education that show you're relevant and up to date on the newest skills
and technology.
4. Personal attributes: Unless you're applying for a
modeling job or another position where looks are a factor, leave your
picture off your résumé. Most employers shouldn't -- and legally can't
-- care about your appearance; they just want to know why you'd be good
for the job. The same goes for listing personal attributes, such as your
height, weight, race or age.
5. False claims: This should go without saying, but
inaccuracies or over-embellished education or experience have no place
on a résumé. Besides running the risk of getting caught (were an
employer to do a background check, talk to references or conduct a
social-media search), why would you want a job if you're not adequately
prepared for it? If you don't know what you're doing, the jig will be up
quickly, and you'll just find yourself jobless again and having burned
important bridges.