What to leave out in your resume

Police forces throughout the world give people the right to be silent because in saying too much they might entrap themselves.

As the author of your resume, give yourself the same rights. By providing too much information in you resume you risk losing the opportunity of an interview.
The resume is your brochure and your initial point of sales material.
Only tobacco products have the mandatory health warning. In other words, your resume should only contain good news.

So here are the definite "No Nos".

Do not put down your reasons for leaving any of your past jobs. This only puts into the mind of the reader that you do not stay.

No photograph. Only five per cent of humans are truly photogenic. For the rest of us, who were given the "just human" pills at birth, don't bother to send a photo as it will only result in you being stereotyped.

No dates of birth. If you are outside the golden decade for careers which is 30 to 40 for most jobs then don't include your age. I know there is a law against age discrimination but you try proving it.

No salary details. Pay is negotiable. What is an employer going to do if he or she sees that you are earning $10 below what they are prepared to pay? We both know that you will get an offer of $5K above your current rate.

No referees. If your referees get contacted before you go for the interview, they will give you a generic reference. The applicant who briefs his or her referee after the interview will get a reference that is on the money. As an employer, which one would you choose?

No educational details if you are not a graduate. If you have one of those great brains that resisted a formal education then leave out this section and let your experience speak for itself. Even Einstein did not do so well at school.

No fancy fonts. This just says that you are an outsider trying to get in. The research suggests boring old Times New Roman is the most easily read font so stick to that.

No unfamiliar abbreviations. Most recruiters are not experts in your area of expertise.

No fancy shades, boxes or clipart - unless, of course, you want a job making up slides for other people's presentations. And, No career objective. Essential for jobs in the US but here employers want to know what you can do for them, not what you expect them to do for you.

Be sucessful!

* Interim is a career coaching firm based in Sydney that helps indivduals as well as companies to maximise career performance.


Article with thanks to careerone.com.au