A well-written resume will make you a good contender for a job. But what information should you leave off in your resume? What should you include and what should you not include in your resume? 

You only have one page to make a good impression on a potential employer. So, what goes into your resume counts a lot! So do things to avoid on resume!

Hiring managers only spend about 7 seconds going through every resume. If your resume is filled with clutter, it may go to the trash can where it belongs. That said, you may be wondering, what should I not put on my resume? 

To make your resume stand out, include only relevant information! Information that matters to the job you are applying for. Don’t clutter your resume with useless and irrelevant stuff!

What Information Should you Leave off in your Resume?

You are well aware that a professionally-written resume is your best armor in your job search. Your resume should show off your work experience, skills, and accomplishments so hiring managers will know whether you are the right fit for the job or not. 

The thing is, there is also information that does not belong on your resume. These are the things that will not help you get the job, but will instead turn off the hiring manager. 

So, what should I not put on my resume?

1. Too Much  Information

Potential employers do not need to know too much information! Truth is, there is some personal information employers are not allowed to ask during the job interview, so why should they be on your resume? 

• Exact address

Your mom and dad must have included their exact address at the top of the page below their name. But today, why should you? The hiring manager does not care about your exact address except your city and state. 

You should not miss out, though on including your contact information such as your  email address and perhaps your LinkedIn URL.  Better yet, include your Rise profile to arouse the curiosity of the hiring manager because it showcases more of your talents, skills, and getting to know you better. 

One thing about the email address- it should be something professional and not something like jill18angel@gmail.com. It’s time to retire your teen email address and go for something more professional. 

• Age

You do not have to mention your age although the year you graduated college and your work experience are a complete giveaway of how old you are. So, why still mention it?

• Marital Status

Including your marital status (single, married, separated, divorced, or widowed) may open doors for prejudice and discrimination. 

The hiring manager is only after whether you are a good match for the job. She wouldn’t care less if you are single, happily married, or divorced because it does not have a bearing on your skills and abilities. 

Besides, your marital status is not relevant to most jobs so leave it off your resume. 

• Religion

Some employers have certain fears or biases about people who include their religious beliefs on their resumes. Again, your religion has nothing to do with your skills and work experience so leave it off your resume. 

• Nationality

The hiring manager is typically not interested in your nationality. Mentioning your nationality is not a legal requirement so why bother? 

• Hobbies and Interest

Sports, cooking, gardening, and coin collecting are common hobbies. Some job hunters think that the more unique their hobby is, the more they will stand out. 

This is so true. It has been proven effective when included in your Rise profile! Hiring managers want to know more about your holistic approach to life! 

It will work more to your advantage if a hobby is related to the job you are applying for. Generally, though, your hobbies can make you unique and stand out from the rest.  

If you are not sure what should I not put on my resume, check if the information is needed for your prospective job. 

2. Irrelevant Work Experience

You may have been great at making milkshakes at the café you worked for in college. But including this skill on your resume? You’ve got to be kidding!  It’s going to be another clutter on your resume.

Instead, highlight skills and experiences you gained from an internship, part-time jobs, or side hustles that are relevant for the job you are applying for. For example, when you are applying for a sales position, you may include what you did to sell more tickets for a concert sponsored by a charitable institution. 

 What skills not to put on resume. This can be a bit challenging. Okay, here is a trick you can use: do not include past work experiences that are not relevant to the job you are applying for. Include only work experiences that show off your relevant skills. 

3. Expected Salary

Gosh! Why would you even think of including your expected salary on your resume? This is one of the most important things to avoid on resume unless it is specified by your potential employer. 

The goal of your resume is to show off your skills, job experiences, and why you are a perfect fit for the job. Salary will be discussed during the interview or when you are offered the job, so leave it out of your resume. 

Never also indicate your salaries in your past jobs on your resume. It is simply tacky! The hiring manager will scoff and toss your resume into the trash can. Don’t even consider it as a job-search strategy!

4. Why you left your previous job

Why should you volunteer this information? It is such a waste of space in your 1-page resume! Besides, it may just pop up during the interview or maybe it won’t, so why bother! 

Final Thoughts

The hiring manager only spends about 7 seconds of her time to go through every resume. Only include information that will arouse her curiosity and will sell yourself! The goal of your resume is to make the hiring manager invite you for an interview. 

Include only information that matters! What should I not put on my resume? Everything that the hiring manager does not care about!

Job hunting should be fun and not stressful!  Create a resume that will stand out and get noticed! 

Make your job search goals happen with Rise!