Keep Fluff Out Of Your Resume

Your resume is the most important tool to have when looking for most jobs. It must be as close to flawless as possible otherwise, you won't get a chance for that face-to-face interview to let potential employers know why you are the person they should hire. To make sure your resume is in good shape, here are some details you may choose not to include in it.

1.) Photos

Unless requested or depending on the industry, leave your photo out. You are not being judged on how you look, so including a photo will make you look unprofessional.

2.) Objective Statement

An objective statement will rarely help you, and it can oftentimes hurt you, so it's usually best to leave it out. Not to mention, it's generally quite hard to write a good objective statement. After all, you're telling the perspective employer what you're looking for, when in fact, they're not there to help you achieve your goals.

3.) Middle and High School Information

If you've gone through college, you usually don't need to add your high school information, particularly if you're way past the graduation date. Middle school references are irrelevant.

4.) GPA

If the company doesn't ask for it, there's no reason to insert in your GPA, especially if your college days are far behind. Including a GPA that is higher than 3.0 is optional if you are a recent graduate looking for work.

5.) Passive Language

Use action verbs and don't make weak references to your achievements. For example, saying things like "familiar with [insert skill]" or "learned how to [insert skill]" is unnecessary. You should cut to the chase and immediately address the skill so you seem like you have the experience, instead of looking like a trainee.

6.) A Series of Short-Lived Jobs

If you've had a series of jobs that you've held for short periods of time, it might be a good idea to leave them out. You don't want a disjointed appearing resume and you definitely don't want employers to think you lack focus or unable to hold down a steady job. Some exceptions can be if you worked somewhere prestigious that would make you look like a better job candidate, or if you had long periods of unemployment that you need to account for. Be prepared to provide an explaination. Still, even in those circumstances, be very cautious about what you do include.

7.) Common, Obvious Skills

Proficiency in Microsoft Windows or Word, for example, are generally considered common knowledge. Try to take those out of the skills section and substitute them with less common skills.

8.) Information That May Cause Discrimination

No need to disclose personal information. For example, leave any mention of social issues, politics or religion out, unless it's relevant to the company you're applying to or if it reflects a strength that will add value to the job position. Be careful what you put down, readers of your resume may be able to glean that information through the affiliations and organizations you belong to. Most of the time, it's best to keep it neutral. Of course, you may not even want to work for an organization that doesn't share your beliefs, so leaving this information in is up to your discretion.

9.) Extra Pages

Ideally, your resume should be one page, two pages maximum. Even if you're applying for very senior-level positions, keeping it short will help highlight the most impressive achievements and leave the irrelevant ones out.

10.) Irrelevant Awards, Recognition

Keeping your resume focused and personalized to the job you are seeking is the point. Make sure that the information is relevant to the position that you're applying for. No need to include that grade school "Best Attendance" certificate.

Of course, there are always exceptions to the points mentioned above. It is important to carefully consider your own circumstances. You may want to consult people who are experienced with the jobseeking or hiring process, to see what works best for you. Jobcase is a great place for that.