Review: What Not to Put In Your Resume

I recently read a provocative article on Business Insider titled 11 Things You Should Never Put On Your Resume. There's some good advice but, as usual, the conventional wisdom falls short. Let's bust some heads!

Get rid of the objective: If you applied, it's already obvious you want the job

Yep. The only time an objective statement may be useful is for candidates fresh out of school that don't have enough work history to make it clear what they are interested in. I think a well-written summary is useful for candidates that have a job history of more than about 5 years. It can save the reviewer the pain of reading about all your jobs during the initial screening.

Cut out all the irrelevant work experiences

So far, so good. If you are applying for a software testing job, no one cares that you worked at a burger joint in high school. On the other hand, if you were promoted to shift manager, that job becomes relevant because you have leadership experience. Early in my career as a software developer, I included my job as a ski instructor because it highlighted that I could manage a group of people, communicate, teach, and be accountable for their safety. Now that I have a history in my profession, that job is not included.

Take a pass on the personal stuff: marital status, religious preference and social security numbers

Absolutely. It is illegal for employers to hire based on marital status, religion, sex, race, and many other things. That's why they don't (or shouldn't) ask about these things during an interview. But if you offer the information, it would be nearly impossible to determine whether it prejudiced their decision. And never put your social security number on any public document. Duh!

Don't let your resume exceed one page

Terrible advice for anyone with more than a few years experience. There is nothing wrong with a resume of three pages, or even 4 if the person has a long work history. It's also profession-dependent. If you are applying for a position as a research professor, your list of publications might take up two or three pages alone. The rule of thumb for anything you put on your resume is: if it improves your changes of getting the job, put it in.

A critical point for a multi-page resume is to be sure to put the most important things on the first page. This might by your summary and your most recent work. Check out my post, What are Recruiters Looking For?, to see why.

Don't list your hobbies

This is usually good advice. The article states: 

If it's not relevant, it's a waste of space and a waste of the company's time.

Conversely, if it is relevant, include it. Some hobbies are related to work, and some show an aptitude for creativity. Some companies, such as Google, are very interested in a candidate's hobbies. The same goes for other outside interests. For example, if you are on the board of directors of a charitable organization, that demonstrates leadership and says something positive about your character.

If you are unsure about including your hobbies or interests, leave them off the resume. You can mention them later if you think it will help.

Don't give them a chance to guess your age

Age is one of those things that can't be discriminated against, but it may be the thing that most often is. Age is personal information, so leave it off your resume. That said, it's darned near impossible to prevent an employer from getting a bead on your age. The article recommends removing your graduation date. What about the dates of your early jobs? Remove those too? Pretty soon the employer assumes you are hiding something and age really becomes an issue. You can probably get away with leaving off your graduation date, and leaving out your early employment all together if it isn't that relevant, or if it is overshadowed by more recent work.

Age discrimination is a big problem, but I don't recommend hiding important information. If a company is going to discriminate, they'll do it after they meet you. There are many companies that value the experience that age brings, those are the companies you want to work for.  

Don't write your resume in the third person

Correct. It makes for an awkward read and could come across as arrogant. Take ownership of your career and use "I."

Don't include references

Indeed. And, as the article recommends, don't even write, "References available upon request." If the company wants them, they will ask. If you include it, they will more likely ask. Although references can benefit you, the problem is that you have no control over what gets said on your behalf. The best intentions of a reference giver mean nothing if she accidentally puts her foot in her mouth.

Don't include a less than professional email account...

We're not in high school anymore. Welcome to adulthood.

There's no need to identify your phone number

This means, you don't write "Phone: 555-...", but just write "555-..." More generally, don't include anything obvious; it wastes space.

Don't include your current business contact info

Of course you don't want to be called while you are at work. Or, maybe you do!

That's it for the article. Mostly good advice, but with a few important exceptions. Here's one I'd like to add.

If you can't talk intelligently about it, leave it out

Too often I see resumes where the candidate includes every technology or skill they've ever come in contact with. Some they've never even used. If you put something on your resume, expect to be asked about it. You'd better be able to talk with a degree of authority.

I've been in so many interviews where I ask a candidate about something on his resume and he says, "Oh, I didn't use that, I just read about it," or "Someone else on the team did that." The two impressions I get are, 1) this person doesn't know much, and 2) this person isn't truthful. This situation casts doubt on any other claim you make on the resume. You just lost the job.

Bottom line: If it doesn't help you get the job, leave it out!