Having a good resume is extremely important when looking for a job, however, would you believe that many people struggle to write a good resume.
There are so many different formulas of what people suggest is the right or wrong way when creating a resume however, one thing for sure, is that there are definitely things you should NOT include in a resume.
A bad resume can be a major roadblock in your quest to finding a job. Employers are inundated with applications and are always looking for reasons to screen out applicants, so it’s your job to ensure you don’t give them a reason to!
Here are the top 5 things you should NOT to include in a resume:
- Your Photo
Some people may think that including a photo on your resume is a good idea however, our HR experts say that this provides an opportunity for discrimination. Your resume should be focused on showcasing your skills, accomplishments and capabilities, not what you look like. An exception to this is if you are applying for an acting or modelling job. If so, then you will have to include a photo.
- Personal Information
Just like the above, your resume should be focused on what you can do for the employer and what you can bring to the organisation. To eliminate any possibility of discrimination in the recruitment process, including your personal information such as your height, weight, birth date, age, sex, religion, political affiliation is not necessary.
- Irrelevant Information
With so many candidates for one job ad, employers don’t have time to filter through all unnecessary information. Be sure to keep your resume concise, relevant and engaging to ensure you don’t lose the reader. If you want to include any hobbies or interest, make sure you only include them if they are relevant to the job role. For example, if you are applying for a job in retail, you can mention that your interests are in fashion or that your hobbies include dressmaking. Include the most important points first before you include the fluffy stuff. Stick to the point! One thing employers hate most are resumes that beat around the bush and aren’t clear. - Reasons for Leaving Your Previous Job
You don’t have to justify why you want to leave your current workplace in your resume. This information isn’t relevant and can set you up for failure if it sounds like you’re making up excuses. Don’t let this information cloud the employers judgement of why you want the job and why they should hire you. - Spelling Mistakes and Grammar Issues
Your resume is a reflection of you and your attention to detail. If you make mistakes on an important document like your resume, the employer will immediately think that you lack attention to detail or are too lazy to proof-read.
