What to Exclude From Your Resume

Don’t get caught with these things on your resume, as it will almost be guaranteed to get tossed aside.

1. Hobbies

Although LinkedIn provides a space to share your hobbies, be sure to keep your resume simple and to the point. Feel free to share your love of traveling or reading on LinkedIn’s hobby section, but always be sure to keep it appropriate.

 

2. Gaps in Work History of Less than 1 Year

There’s no need to overcomplicate your resume explaining things, instead list your experience and the interviewer can ask about the small gap later in the interview process.

 

3. Negative Comments

When explaining what you did at your previous job in your bullet points, DO NOT be negative about your past employers. Focus on what you did for the company.

 

4. Every Single Job

There’s no need to list every job you’ve had since you were 16 if you have enough work experience to fill your resume. If you’ve been co-oping through college, that experience is much more valuable to list. Use your space wisely!

 

5. Age/marital status

There’s no need to put this information on your resume. There are very few exceptions, such as if you want to attend a wine etiquette workshop and they require you to submit a resume you may need to include your birthdate to ensure you’re 21.

6. Salary Expectations

Stay focused on applying for the job itself and save this for negotiation.

 

7. Unprofessional Emails

Don’t ruin your chances at the job because you kept your 8^th grade email address in your resume.

 

8. Skills You’re Expected to Know

If you went to college, the chances are extremely high that you should know how to use Microsoft Word proficiently. There’s no need to list redundant skills that they expect of you. On the other hand, if you are well-versed in Excel or Access, you can list that as not everyone will be.

Need help with your resume? Stop by the Purdue CCO in YONG132 between 10-4pm Monday-Friday for walk-in hours.