Hiring managers receive an average of 75 résumés per position they post, according to CareerBuilder.com. So they don‘t have the time or resources to review each one closely, and they spend approximately six seconds on their initial “fit/no fit” decision.
If you want to pass that test, you need to have some solid qualifications — and the perfect résumé to highlight them.
Here are 30 things you should never include on your résumé.
Vivian Giang and Natalie Walters contributed to earlier versions of this article.
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1. An objective.
If you applied, it’s already obvious you want the job.
The exception: If you’re in a unique situation, such as changing industries completely, it may be useful to include a brief summary.
2. Irrelevant work experiences.
Yes, you might have been the “king of making milkshakes” at the restaurant you worked for in high school. But unless you are planning on redeeming that title, it is time to get rid of all that clutter.
But as Alyssa Gelbard, career expert and founder of career-consulting firm Résumé Strategists, points out: Past work experience that might not appear to be directly relevant to the job at hand might show another dimension, depth, ability, or skill that actually is relevant or applicable.
Only include this experience if it really showcases additional skills that can translate to the position you’re applying for.
3. Personal stuff.
Don’t include your marital status, religious preference, or Social Security number.
This might have been the standard in the past, but all of this information is now illegal for your employer to ask from you, so there’s no need to include it.
