To get your dream job, you first need to ace an interview, but in order to book that interview in the first place, you need to have an impressive, standout resume! In truth, it isn’t hard to produce a strong resume. It’s all about having a clear and concise layout, with just enough personal information to boost your profile and intrigue the potential employer. However, on the other hand, there are definitely a LOT of things that you can do to completely ruin a resume, things that can make you an immediate throw in the office trash can. Here are some things that you should never put on your resume!
You should never write details about your previous jobs that include criticisms of your past employers. You might have had a torrid time in an old job, but complaining about it on a resume just looks really unprofessional, and can make you seem like a problematic or argumentative employee to the person reading.
If there are any breaks or issues with your past employment history, don’t try to pad it out with lots of excuses. If the occasion calls for it, you can explain yourself at an interview, but don’t bombard the resume reader with a long list of reasons why you didn’t achieve that or you left before you could finish this.
Your resume should be tailored to the specific job to which you are applying. You shouldn’t be padding it out by listing lots of skills and extracurriculars that aren’t relevant to the role. If you include too much unnecessary information, the reader will assume that you don’t fully understand the nature of the job, and they’ll pass you over for someone who includes only the vital and important facts.
Only include the achievements that are necessary, from senior academia and beyond. If you are applying for a job at a law firm, they do not need to know about the school swimming certificates you earned when you were ten, or the Girl Scouts badges you have sewed proudly in to your uniform! Keep things mature and to the point!
The last thing you want to do is misspell things and use incorrect grammar on a document that has the power to unlock the door to your dream job! It is just common sense to have someone double check your resume because you will probably have spent so much time with it by the end than you won’t be able to notice the longtime mistakes.
You don’t need to include too much information, they don’t need to know about your personal life to the extent that they know the name of your husband and the birthdays of your three children! Okay, so that might be an over exaggeration, but you get the gist!
It is not uncommon for people to exaggerate on their resume. After all, you want everything to sound its best. But DO NOT LIE! It's not worth being found out - especially if you lie about your qualifications. Instead, highlight and make the most of the things you are proud of.