7 Things You Should Never Include on Your Resume

Let’s get right to the list so you can fix that resume and start getting interviews!

Dates of employment more than 15 years ago

Including more than 10-15 years of work experience is unnecessary. Most recruiters and employers consider only the past 10 years of experience the most relevant when evaluating your candidacy.

An objective statement

In its traditional format an objective is extremely vague and tells the employer only what you hope to gain. It typically sounds something like this: To use my education and years of experience within an organization that offers growth and advancement opportunities. Extremely vague and useless!

Reason for leaving

The resume is not the time or place to discuss why you left your last position—or why you’re seeking a new one. This is better left for the interview.

First- and third-person references

Resumes are correctly written in implied first-person without the “I” statements. So leave off any “I, me, and my” references or any “Mr. Smith” did this and that, and just state in an impactful way what you actually did.

Personal information

Marriage status, birth date, social security number—all information that U.S.-based employers do NOT want to see. Leave it off the resume.

Photos

Most job seekers should never put a photo on their resume. HR has been trained by their legal departments for years that this can be a minefield for discrimination and should be avoided. That being said, in some careers it’s OK, and actually expected. Examples could include: entertainment industry (modeling, acting), broadcasting/journalism, real estate, and consulting/self-employment when marketing to potential clients.

GPA

Unless it was a 4.0 and you graduated within the last three years, I wouldn’t bother including it. Most employers won’t look for it or use it as a basis for an interview decision.

Responsible for/Duties included

The use of action verbs on your resume is much more effective and impactful. Avoid passive phrases—especially the two listed above—that sound more like a job description.

Have something you think should never find its way onto a resume? Share it with me in the comments below!

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