Finding a job these days is very hard and competition for every opening is fierce. According to employers that for every position advertised, hundreds of people send in applications for the job along with their resumes but majority of these applicants are rejected because only one person is needed for the position or they may be rejected for the job because of what they've put into their resumes. Below are some of the information not needed to be put in the resume and if you've been putting in any of the information cited, then you have stop it! You may be hurting your chances of getting hired.
1. Unrelated Part Time or Temporary Work
Whatever job you're applying for, your employer is not interested to the part time jobs you are working before especially if it is not related to the job advertised or they are looking for. So do not include it in the resume.
2. Unrelated Interests
Your interests or hobbies won't help you nail the job if they're unrelated to the position offered. Mention only interests that make you a more attractive candidate for the job and exclude all the rest.
3. Boring Words and Resume Clichés
Use powerful verbs to say the same thing. Words such as "team player", "detail-oriented" and other similar resume clichés are no longer effective in selling yourself to a prospective employer. Find appropriate words in the dictionary if necessary. For example for the word "team player", you can write: "cooperates and collaborates easily with other staff" or "carefully vigilant about details" instead of "detail oriented". A resume that's different than the usual run-of-the-mill submissions will grab the attention of HR people.
4. High School Diploma
If you only have a high school education, it may be prudent not to include that fact, unless you are currently a college student in pursuit of a degree.
5. Vague Objectives
If you want to list your objectives, make sure they are concrete. For example, something similar to the following can be very effective: Objective: To contribute to the success and profitability of the company through my effort, expertise and experience. A vague objective, such as the following, should not be in your resume. Objective: To help the company through my hard work.
6. Your Photo
Don't send your photo along with your application. Your face is unimportant to a potential employer, unless a picture is requested, which is a rare occurrence. Some people who have sent photographs with job applications the employer is likely to ignore all applications with a picture of the applicant attached.
7. Personal Qualities
Your age, race, religion, medical condition, disability, height, weight and sexual orientation are irrelevant. The law requires employers to disregard these qualities in their hiring decisions
8. Weaknesses
Don't broadcast your weaknesses. For example, don't write something like: "I'm good at word processing, but not quite good on Excel and Power Point.". Don't give an employer an excuse to reject you. If you're asked, however, after you've applied for a job, don't lie or exaggerate - your weakness will become evident in time, and could lead to your dismissal, if not disclosed initially if asked.
9. Negative Comments
Don't bad-mouth your previous boss. Don't complain about your financial troubles. If you were fired from your last position for stealing paper clips, don't mention it. If you were dishonorably discharged from the military, or did a prison stretch, don't mention it. You can be truthful about any of these issues only if asked.
10. Lies and/or Exaggerations
Don't lie about your experience, education or achievements. Don't increase your previous salary. Employers in these tough times have been verifying facts on applicant’s resumes, and almost every lie and exaggeration will be nailed.
11. Self-Serving Goals
If you're applying for a job in a certain industry, just to learn that business as a stepping stone to another position, don't mention that. Many younger applicants will write their long-term goals in their resumes which resulted to rejection of the job. Most employers want applicants to focus on the job they're offering, not on some future job.
12. Politics, Prejudices and Personal Preferences
Whatever your political persuasion, and whoever you dislike, should not be included in your resume. You may like or dislike the current government administration, but your potential employer will probably not care.
Landing a job right now is tough and if you follow the tips mentioned above and leaved out that information in your resume, you’ll have a better chance of getting the job you applied for.
