Every hiring manager and HR pro out there has seen their share of terrible resumes. Here at The Hired Guns, we see them constantly, and our collective heart breaks for those earnest, well-intentioned souls who are just trying a tad too hard to score an interview. Usually, I reach out and offer them some pointers and direct them to some useful resources for fixing whatever abomination they just sent us. I’ve been working in the career game for quite some time, and have seen literally thousands of resumes. Here are five of the most egregious resume errors I somehow still see on a regular basis.
1. Photos
This one’s an instant deal killer. Even the basic professional head shot will render your resume DOA. After all, you’re selling your skills, not your looks. But that’s only half the problem. The primary issue with putting a photo on your resume is that hiring you will open an employer to a boatload of discrimination issues. Unless you’re in a field where your appearance is key — broadcast journalism, say — resist the temptation.
Noteworthy Examples That I Totally Didn’t Make Up:
- A software developer in an ill-fitting shirt that read “HACKER”
- A strip mall-style glamor shot with soft lighting and a feather boa
- Another strip mall-style glamor shot, this time featuring a cowboy hat and toy revolver
- A photo of what I assume were the job seeker’s cats (job seeker not pictured)
2. Personal Information
Many people will tell you to add your interests, hobbies, family information, marital status, religious or political affiliation, or personal passions to your resume. “It helps humanize you!” they say. “It helps show your personality!” These people are wrong and should be ignored at all costs.
In addition to opening those same discriminatory doors as I mentioned above, your personal information has no bearing on your ability to the job, takes up valuable resume real estate, and generally seems jarringly out of place to a busy reader.
The only possible exception to this rule is if something you’ve done on your own time intersects with the job to which you’re applying. If you’re applying to a be VP of Sales for a golf ball manufacturer, then sure, add your handicap. If you’re applying for a non-profit, then list your volunteering experience. But if you’re applying to an app garage, do not tell them that you breed ferrets.
Noteworthy Examples That I Totally Didn’t Make Up:
- “Father to three wonderful children. Ex-husband to a gold-digging troll.”
- “I have no interest in working with or for Democrats.”
3. Unprofessional Contact or Social Media Information
This one’s self-explanatory. I’ve seen too many horrid email addresses to count. If you’re unsure about whether or not yours is unacceptable, go get First.Last@gmail. It’s free and takes two seconds. Also, if your social media profiles contain information that you don’t want an employer to see, don’t include them in your resume, because a prospective employer will look. Hell, they’ll look anyway. So just don’t have embarrassing social profiles.
Noteworthy Examples That I Totally Didn’t Make Up:
I can’t actually share any here without giving away someone’s personal contact info. I will say, however, that if you’re a grown person applying for a Director of Marketing gig, the word “Belieber” has no place in your email address.
4. Reasons for Leaving
You are under no obligation to reveal why you left a previous job. If it comes up in an interview, address the question honestly. But you certainly don’t have to volunteer this information up front. I’m genuinely baffled about where this idea came from, but I’ve seen “Reason for Leaving” on tons of resumes over the years. My investigation is ongoing.
Noteworthy Examples That I Totally Didn’t Make Up:
- “Fired for disloyalty and incompetence.” (This is a Hired Guns favorite)
- “Did not pass drug test.”
- “Start-up failed; founder blew through the venture capital like a sailor on shore leave.”
5. Unexplained Gaps in Employment
People take time off. Maybe you took a few years to stay at home with your child, or took a sabbatical to write the Great American Novel. What you shouldn’t do is leave a big gap in your resume. This will make a reader wonder where you were for that period, and may lead them to wonder what you’re hiding amidst an otherwise stellar career.
In these cases, it’s wise to include a single line explaining where you were during those years off. Don’t get too detailed (see #2 above), but you should definitely include something like: “Childcare sabbatical” or “A two-year hiatus to pursue creative interests.”
Noteworthy Examples That I Totally Didn’t Make Up:
- “Spent three years in Club Fed for securities fraud”
- “Breastfeeding”
Yes, friends, all of these are real, all of these are common, and all of these will kill your resume in its tracks. For tips about what you should include on your resume, see my previous post entitled, handily, “How to Write a Great Resume.”
