214: What Should I Include - and Leave Off - My Resume?
What Should I Include - and Leave Off - My Resume?
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I get a lot of questions about what should, and shouldn’t, be included in a resume. I also see a lot of resumes that include information that shouldn’t be there.
Keep in mind that your resume should be a marketing document. You are selling a product, and that product is YOU. You want the reader to know your features and benefits. What will they get if they buy you? Why should they choose you over all the other candidates?
If you keep this concept of a marketing document in mind as you write your resume, you should be able to look at the things on your resume to determine if they add value to your candidacy or not.
Here are six things that should ALWAYS be on your resume:
Your name
Your contact information (phone number and email address)
Your education (list degrees both as abbreviations and spelled out)
Your relevant work experience, with achievements
A clearly articulated, differentiating branding statement
Relevant and current credentials, certifications, courses, etc.
Here are eight things that should NEVER be on your resume (specific to North America):
Your street address
Your marital status
A picture (unless you are an actor or model)
Information about children, your health
Unrelated personal hobbies
Salary expectations/salary history
Reason(s) for leaving previous jobs
Exact days of beginning and ending jobs (month and year is sufficient)
Here are nine things that MIGHT go on your resume:
Professional affiliations
Relevant personal interests
Your city, state, and zip
Faith-based volunteering
Unrelated jobs
Your LinkedIn URL
Community engagement
Board service
A list of relevant keywords
As you can see, much of what should or shouldn’t go on your resume is dependent on what your career goal is and/or how you will be using your resume. Continually ask the question: “Does this thing add value to my candidacy?” If so, include as space permits.
One final reminder: Your resume is not a C.V. – meaning it is not meant to be an exhaustive record of your professional history and achievements. Rather, it is a carefully curated marketing document that should present you in the best possible light.
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