Five Things You Should Not Include on Your Resume
Published on: Feb 20, 2025
As a recruiter with Frontline Source Group, I've reviewed thousands of resumes across various industries and experience levels. While there's no perfect formula for a winning resume, there are definitely elements that can hurt your chances of landing an interview. In today's competitive job market, your resume needs to be concise, relevant, and impactful – which means knowing what to leave out is just as important as knowing what to include. Here are five things you should absolutely avoid including on your resume.
First, resist the urge to include an objective statement. These outdated resume openers typically focus on what you want rather than what you can offer an employer. Most objective statements are generic, taking up valuable space with phrases like "seeking a challenging position that allows for professional growth." Hiring managers are more interested in your qualifications and how you can benefit their organization. Instead, consider replacing this with a powerful professional summary that highlights your most relevant skills and accomplishments. This approach immediately demonstrates your value proposition to potential employers and makes a stronger first impression.
Another element to exclude from your resume is irrelevant work experience. Many job seekers make the mistake of including every position they've ever held, dating back to their first summer job. Unless that lifeguard position from fifteen years ago developed skills directly applicable to the job you're seeking now, it's best to leave it off. Focus on the most recent and relevant 10-15 years of experience, tailoring each position to highlight transferable skills that align with the job description. This targeted approach not only makes your resume more concise but also helps hiring managers quickly identify why you're a good fit for the role without having to sift through irrelevant information.
Personal information beyond your contact details should also be omitted from your resume. There was a time when including details like marital status, age, religious affiliation, or political views was common practice, but those days are long gone. Not only does sharing such information open the door to potential unconscious bias, but it also takes up space that could be better used to showcase your professional qualifications. Additionally, many companies are legally prohibited from considering such factors in hiring decisions. Stick to professional contact information: your name, phone number, email address, LinkedIn profile, and city/state. This keeps the focus where it belongs – on your professional capabilities.
The fourth item to eliminate from your resume is unprofessional email addresses. While this might seem obvious, I'm constantly surprised by the number of candidates who use email addresses created during their college years that include nicknames, hobby references, or birth years. An email address like "partyanimal1985@email.com" or "crazycatlady@email.com" immediately creates an unprofessional impression before a hiring manager has even reviewed your qualifications. Your email address is often the first piece of information a recruiter sees, so make sure it's professional, ideally some variation of your name. If necessary, create a new email account specifically for your job search – it takes just minutes and can significantly impact how seriously your application is taken.
Finally, avoid including references or the phrase "references available upon request" on your resume. This practice not only wastes valuable space but also dates your resume format. Hiring managers universally assume you'll provide references if asked, making this statement entirely unnecessary. Keep your references on a separate document that matches your resume's formatting, ready to provide when requested. This approach also protects your references from being contacted too early in the hiring process or too frequently if you're applying to multiple positions. Save that space for highlighting additional skills, certifications, or accomplishments that strengthen your candidacy.
In conclusion, creating an effective resume requires thoughtful curation of your professional experience and achievements. By eliminating objective statements, irrelevant work history, personal information, unprofessional email addresses, and reference notations, you'll create a more focused, powerful document that highlights what truly matters to employers. Remember that your resume is often your first opportunity to make an impression – make every word count by including only information that strengthens your candidacy and demonstrates your potential value to employers. As recruiters, we're looking for candidates who can clearly communicate their relevant qualifications, and a well-crafted resume free of these common mistakes is an excellent first step in that direction.
