What NOT to include in your resume

Building your resume will take time, and believe me, it won’t be that easy. While most people battle with the things they should put on their resume, I will focus on the things you shouldn’t.

Please, do not include your photo in your resume, unless you are seeking a career in the film industry. Nobody will really pay attention how you look, unless you are trying to be the next Victoria’s Secret model.

Don’t be too confident about your skills and experience– be honest. Keep the adjectives to yourself, and don’t over estimate your abilities.

Irrelevant jobs should be kept away from your resume. If you were the mascot at your school last summer, you shouldn’t put that in your resume under jobs– maybe in activities or accomplishments. Stay away from things that don’t matter.

Physical characteristics should not be in your resume. I repeat– stay away from physical characteristics. Having a six pack won’t make you a better worker than the over weight person sitting in the corner.

Do not write your personal ideas in regards to religion, sexual orientation, marriage status, political influence, etc. If they are not important to the job you are looking for, please stay away from it and be simple.

Strange habits should be kept in secret. Your boss won’t admire you more because you can eat 30 hot dogs in one hour. This hobbies are fun, but not appropriate for a job resume.

Don’t sound unprofessional in your resume by misspelling words or using bad language. We all know writing matters, so keep it clean and double-check what you write.

Also, avoid cliches and repetition– it may throw your soon-to-be boss off.

I know it might seem like a lot of information to process before you write your resume, but believe me, it will be worth it. The job you are looking for will be ready for you, if you are ready for it; be prepared, and good luck.

A version of this was published at The Vista