Resume Writing Don’ts: 10 Things You Should Never Include On Your Resume

  • Irrelevant Personal Information: Avoid including personal details like your marital status, religion, gender, or date of birth. These details are generally not relevant to your qualifications and may lead to bias.

  • Unprofessional Email Addresses: Use a professional email address that includes your name rather than a casual or outdated one.

  • Objective Statements: Objective statements are becoming less common. Instead, focus on a strong summary highlighting your skills and accomplishments.

  • Inappropriate Hobbies: While mentioning hobbies can show your personality, avoid listing hobbies that might be controversial or unrelated to the job.

  • Unrelated Work Experience: Include work experience that is relevant to the job you’re applying for. Exclude jobs that are not related to the industry or role.

  • Unexplained Employment Gaps: If you have gaps in your work history, consider briefly explaining them. Leaving unexplained gaps can raise questions for recruiters.

  • References: It’s not necessary to include references directly on your resume. Instead, prepare a separate reference list and provide it when requested.

  • Generic Job Descriptions: Provide specific accomplishments and responsibilities for each role instead of using generic job descriptions. Quantify your achievements when possible.

  • Negative Language: Avoid using negative language, even if you’re discussing challenges you’ve faced. Focus on how you overcame them and the positive outcomes.

  • Spelling and Grammar Mistakes: Proofread your resume thoroughly to avoid any spelling or grammatical errors. Mistakes can give the impression of lack of attention to detail.