Making errors on your resume can significantly harm your chances in the hiring process. A flawless resume indicates thorough preparation and demonstrates your commitment to the job application. It shows employers that you value their time and attention. Here are things you shouldn’t include when crafting your resume:

1. Including unnecessary personal details

When crafting your resume to showcase your top professional achievements and experiences, avoid including unnecessary personal details. Although anti-discrimination laws exist in every country, human biases still exist. Providing excessive personal information can inadvertently invite discrimination. Here’s what you should refrain from including on your resume:

• Headshot
• Marital status
• Social security number
• Graduation years
• Religion
• Date of birth
• Gender
• Political affiliation
• Age
• Sexual orientation

2. Highlighting irrelevant skills

Before crafting your resume, it’s crucial to align your skills with the employer’s job description. This ensures relevance and enhances your chances of landing the job. Here’s how to approach adding skills to your resume:

• Prioritize skills mentioned in the job advertisement.
• Include other relevant skills directly related to the role.
• Emphasize transferable skills if you’re transitioning careers.
• Exclude outdated or unrelated skills.

3. Mentioning work contact information

Ensuring your contact information on your resume is accurate is crucial because a hiring manager needs to be able to reach you. One common mistake job seekers make is including their work phone number or email address. Using work contact details during a job search can send the wrong signal to employers. Always provide your personal contact information on your resume to maintain professionalism and accessibility.

4. Listing vague remarks about past jobs

When crafting your resume, it’s crucial to showcase your past roles effectively. Avoid vague descriptions in your work experience section by clearly highlighting your achievements and responsibilities. Provide specific examples and quantify your accomplishments where possible to demonstrate your impact and value to potential employers.

• Write specific sentences that are unique to your career history
• Avoid talking about job duties and responsibilities
• Mention your biggest professional achievements regarding each past role
• Include numbers, percentages, data, and metrics in bullet points
• Add a timeframe to the results to improve the wow factor
• Describe your actions and highlight the skills you used

5. Not creating additional sections

While the fundamental resume sections—contact information, summary, skills, work experience, and education—give employers a basic overview of your background, they may not cover all the details that could influence a hiring decision. Additional resume sections allow you to highlight valuable skills and experiences crucial to the role but not fully captured in the standard sections. Here are some recommended additional sections to consider:

• Language proficiency: Fluency in multiple languages is highly advantageous for certain roles and industries.
• Volunteer experience: Involvement in community service showcases your commitment and adds to your professional image.
• Certifications and licenses: Demonstrating your qualifications through certifications and licenses underscores your expertise and suitability for the job.
• Projects: Highlighting relevant projects demonstrates your active engagement and interest in the field.
• Awards and recognition: Showcasing professional accolades and honors underscores your achievements and strengths effectively.

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