Having worked within recruitment for over 15 years, I have seen the good, bad and unimaginable resumes and applications for work.  Resumes are such an important part of the recruitment process and are the first thing the potential client will see from you; therefore they need to be able to sell you!  Many people understand this and really try and make their resume stand out.

By all means, make sure that your resume leaves an impression but there is a right and a wrong way to ensure this is achieved.  Maybe the reason you didn’t receive that call back or invitation to interview wasn’t because the employer didn’t receive your resume, but because of what is included in it.

We have compiled a list of the 10 things you should not include under any circumstance on your resume.

1. Exclude all your ‘personal’ information

Don’t include your marital status, religious preference, Tax File Number, physical appearance or number of kids you have.  It may a great accomplishment for you that you have ‘been hitting the gym ‘and lost all the weight you were hoping for, but in reality the employer isn’t going to care!  Additionally the decision of whether you are successful for the job won’t be placed on whether you have 3 dogs, 2 cats and a pet rabbit called Bugsy!  The important rule to note is – if it isn’t relevant to the position then just don’t include it

2. Don’t include your Age!

Although employers aren’t allowed to discriminate against age, don’t give the ability to do so.  Age is irrelevant to the application and your suitability for the role.  The recruiter or potential employer isn’t going to send you a birthday card or present so there’s no reason to include these details.

3. Ensure your email address is professional and appropriate

hotlips69@domailname.com or spunkymonkey@domainname.com may have been hilarious when you were young and emails were only sent between friends, but as soon as you start using your email address in a professional setting these become completely inappropriate.  These email addresses definitely won’t portray a positive or professional image of you.  Likewise, try to avoid using group or family email addresses (i.e. Matt_and_Sally@domainname.com); there is no reason why you can’t create another email account for the purpose of professional applications.  Have a look at the links below to review some free email account sites

• gmail.com
• hotmail.com
• yahoo.com
• icloud.com

4. Use appropriate Language – Don’t use Text Message language!

Text message acronyms are for text messaging and grammatically incorrect.  I once received an application letter which read as below;

Hi Linda

 I am very interested in the job advertised 2day.  ATM I am working at <co name> but am looking 4 another opportunity.  I have attached my cv, LMK if OK

 TIA

<name>

I read this and had absolutely no idea what they wanted to communicate to me!

5. Don’t include spelling mistakes or grammatical errors

There shouldn’t be any reason or excuse to have these errors appear in your application as all Word processing software contains spelling and grammatical checks.  Not only does it appear extremely unprofessional but also shows a lack of attention to detail.  Here are some of the most common mistakes we encounter on a daily basis;

6. If you choose to use a photo make sure is it professional

Photos and visual cues can really make an impact and ensure your resume is noticed and remembered.  I would actually suggest not using a photo unless it would help you land the job eg. auditioning to be a model or actress. Ensure though if you do use one that it is remembered for the right reasons.  If you include a photo make sure it is professional and a ‘corporate head shot’.

7. Don’t include referee details

Your resume should not include all the contact details of your referees.  It is important to remember that they still have a job to perform and the last thing they would want is to be contacted endlessly.  Make sure that they are notified prior to you divulging their contact details and they are ready and prepared to talk to only the legitimate calls.

8. Don’t write your resume in the third person

“Jack believes that your being snarky or trying to impress by writing in third person makes you look cocky. Jack is certain the vast majority of people hate it when others talk of themselves in this manner. In fact, Jack insists that you never refer to yourself in third person unless you’re trying to make your co-workers laugh. Jack would go so far as to not even write in first person. Why? I’m fairly certain it is understood every detail on your resume is about you. Agree with Jack…everyone is doing it.” (Wallen, 2015)

9. Don’t Lie!

It is human nature to embellish and potentially exaggerate but a small exaggeration is a big difference to a blatant lie.  It is acceptable and probably expected that you would highlight your experience in certain areas but definitely not acceptable to lie about your experience.  Stating that you can touch type at 80 words a minute, are an advanced user of MS Excel and have immense experience in presentation s and tender proposals may get you an interview but if it is to get you the job, you will be exposed if you can’t back up your claims!

10. Don’t include your current employer’s details

This point can be debated from both sides but essentially if you want to ensure your activity as a jobseeker remains confidential don’t disclose details about your current employer.  This means that you don’t send your application through your work email or include your work contact number on your resume or covering letter.

We hope these tips help! What are your tips and tricks when writing a resume and searching for a job?