{"id":3129,"date":"2023-11-02T08:58:21","date_gmt":"2023-11-02T08:58:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.naukri.com\/campus\/career-guidance\/?p=3129"},"modified":"2024-06-24T09:12:50","modified_gmt":"2024-06-24T09:12:50","slug":"what-not-to-include-on-a-resume","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.naukri.com\/campus\/career-guidance\/what-not-to-include-on-a-resume","title":{"rendered":"What Not to Include on a Resume? &#8211; Best Tips &#038; Do\u2019s and Don\u2019ts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Your resume is often your first opportunity to make a lasting impression on potential employers. As a fresher or college student, crafting an effective resume is crucial to securing that coveted job or internship. However, it&#8217;s equally important to know what not to include on your resume. This article will provide a detailed guide on what you should avoid when creating your resume, helping you stand out in the competitive job market.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We&#8217;ll cover the top 10 things you should never include on your resume, offer dos and don&#8217;ts of resume writing, and highlight common mistakes to avoid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Topics Covered in the Article<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Top 10 Things You Should Never Include on Your Resume<\/li><li>The Do\u2019s and Don\u2019ts of Resume Writing<\/li><li>Common Mistakes to Avoid on Your Resume<\/li><li>FAQs on What Not to Include on a Resume<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_69_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.naukri.com\/campus\/career-guidance\/what-not-to-include-on-a-resume\/#Top_10_Things_You_Should_Never_Include_on_Your_Resume\" title=\"Top 10 Things You Should Never Include on Your Resume\">Top 10 Things You Should Never Include on Your Resume<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.naukri.com\/campus\/career-guidance\/what-not-to-include-on-a-resume\/#The_Dos_and_Donts_of_Resume_Writing\" title=\"The Do\u2019s and Don\u2019ts of Resume Writing\">The Do\u2019s and Don\u2019ts of Resume Writing<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.naukri.com\/campus\/career-guidance\/what-not-to-include-on-a-resume\/#Common_Mistakes_to_Avoid_on_Your_Resume\" title=\"Common Mistakes to Avoid on Your Resume\">Common Mistakes to Avoid on Your Resume<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.naukri.com\/campus\/career-guidance\/what-not-to-include-on-a-resume\/#FAQs_on_What_Not_to_Include_on_a_Resume\" title=\"FAQs on What Not to Include on a Resume\">FAQs on What Not to Include on a Resume<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Top_10_Things_You_Should_Never_Include_on_Your_Resume\"><\/span>Top 10 Things You Should Never Include on Your Resume<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As a fresher or student, you may be eager to include everything you can on your resume to impress potential employers. However, there are a number of things you should avoid including, as they can make your resume look unprofessional or even disqualify you from consideration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are the top 10 things you should never include on your resume:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Personal information:<\/strong>\u00a0This includes your full mailing address, marital status, religious beliefs, and other personal details. Employers do not need this information to assess your qualifications for the job, and including it can make you a target for identity theft.<\/li><li><strong>Irrelevant work experience:<\/strong>\u00a0If you&#8217;re applying for a job in software engineering, don&#8217;t include your experience working as a cashier at a grocery store. Instead, highlight your\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.naukri.com\/campus\/career-guidance\/resume-writing-tips-for-freshers-how-to-add-extracurricular-activities\">extracurricular activities<\/a>, internships, and academic accomplishments.<\/li><li><strong>General skills:\u00a0<\/strong>Instead of listing general skills like &#8220;good\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.naukri.com\/campus\/career-guidance\/what-are-communication-skills\">communication skills<\/a>&#8221; or &#8220;team player,&#8221; be specific and provide examples of how you&#8217;ve demonstrated these skills in the past. For example, instead of saying &#8220;good communication skills,&#8221; you could say &#8220;Developed and delivered a presentation on social media marketing to a team of 20.&#8221;<\/li><li><strong>Objective statements:<\/strong>\u00a0Objective statements are outdated and no longer necessary. Instead of focusing on what you want from the job, focus on what you can offer the employer.<\/li><li><strong>References:<\/strong>\u00a0Don&#8217;t list your references on your resume. Employers will ask for them if they need them.<\/li><li><strong>Photos:<\/strong>\u00a0Unless specifically requested, do not include a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.naukri.com\/campus\/career-guidance\/photo-on-resume\">photo on your resume<\/a>. This can be seen as unprofessional and discriminatory.<\/li><li><strong>Buzzwords and clich\u00e9s:<\/strong>\u00a0Avoid using buzzwords and clich\u00e9s like &#8220;synergy,&#8221; &#8220;thought leader,&#8221; and &#8220;value-added.&#8221; These words are overused and don&#8217;t tell employers anything meaningful about your skills and experience.<\/li><li><strong>Negative information:\u00a0<\/strong>Don&#8217;t include any negative information on your resume, such as reasons you left previous jobs or details about personal problems. Focus on the positive and\u00a0highlight your accomplishments.<\/li><li><strong>Lies or exaggerations:<\/strong>\u00a0Never lie or exaggerate on your resume. If you&#8217;re caught, you&#8217;ll be immediately disqualified from the job and may even damage your reputation.<\/li><li><strong>Grammar and spelling errors:<\/strong>\u00a0Proofread your resume carefully before submitting it to potential employers. Even the smallest grammar or spelling error can make you look unprofessional.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Dos_and_Donts_of_Resume_Writing\"><\/span>The Do\u2019s and Don\u2019ts of Resume Writing<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some additional dos and don&#8217;ts of resume writing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do\u2019s of Resume Writing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Highlight Your Achievements. Focus on your accomplishments, including projects, awards, or internships that&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.naukri.com\/campus\/career-guidance\/skills-for-fresher-resume\">demonstrate your skills<\/a>&nbsp;and contributions.<\/li><li>Use Action Verbs. Start bullet points with strong action verbs like &#8220;managed,&#8221; &#8220;developed,&#8221; or &#8220;achieved&#8221; to convey a sense of proactivity and impact.<\/li><li>Customize your resume for each job application by emphasizing relevant skills and experiences.<\/li><li>Quantify Your Achievements. Use numbers to quantify your accomplishments whenever possible. For example, &#8220;increased sales by 20%,&#8221; &#8220;managed a team of 10,&#8221; or &#8220;completed 50 projects.&#8221;<\/li><li>Write a concise&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.naukri.com\/campus\/career-guidance\/resume-summary-for-freshers\">professional summary<\/a>&nbsp;at the beginning of your resume, summarizing your key strengths and career goals.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Don\u2019ts of Resume Writing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Do not use a generic&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.naukri.com\/campus\/career-guidance\/resume-format-for-freshers\">resume template<\/a>. Your resume should be unique and tailored to your individual qualifications.<\/li><li>Keep your resume concise and to the point. Avoid unnecessary details that can overwhelm the employer.<\/li><li>Remember that your resume may be reviewed by individuals outside your field, so avoid using excessive jargon and acronyms. Explain technical terms when necessary.<\/li><li>Do not write in the third person. Use the first person (&#8220;I&#8221;) when describing your work experience and accomplishments.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Common_Mistakes_to_Avoid_on_Your_Resume\"><\/span>Common Mistakes to Avoid on Your Resume<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to the things you should never include on your resume, there are a number of common mistakes you should avoid. Here are a few tips:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Many companies use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.naukri.com\/campus\/career-guidance\/applicant-tracking-systems-ats-software\">applicant tracking systems (ATS)<\/a> to screen resumes. To increase your chances of getting noticed, include\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.naukri.com\/campus\/career-guidance\/resume-keywords\">industry-specific keywords<\/a>\u00a0that match the job description.<\/li><li>Avoid generic objectives like &#8220;seeking a challenging position.&#8221; Instead, create a specific professional summary highlighting what you can offer to the employer.<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.naukri.com\/campus\/career-guidance\/how-to-tailor-resume-for-job-applications\">Tailoring your resume for each job application<\/a> is essential. Customize it to match the skills and experiences the employer is looking for.<\/li><li>Don&#8217;t use too much jargon or technical language. Your resume should be written in plain English that anyone can understand.<\/li><li>Don&#8217;t forget to proofread your resume carefully. Even the smallest grammar or spelling error can make you look unprofessional.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In the competitive job market, it&#8217;s crucial for freshers and college students to create a standout resume. By avoiding the 10 things you should never include on your resume and following the dos and don&#8217;ts of resume writing, you can increase your chances of landing your dream job or internship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Naukri Campus&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.naukri.com\/campus\/resume-maker\">Free Online Resume Maker<\/a>\u00a0is a free online tool that can help you create a professional resume. The tool is easy to use, and it includes a variety of templates and features to help you create a resume that is tailored to your specific needs. Remember to tailor your resume for each application, focus on your achievements, and use industry-specific keywords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Related Reads:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.naukri.com\/campus\/career-guidance\/resume-for-software-engineer-freshers\">Resume for Software Engineer Freshers<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.naukri.com\/campus\/career-guidance\/how-to-write-an-it-fresher-resume\">IT Fresher Resume<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.naukri.com\/campus\/career-guidance\/resume-mistakes-to-avoid\">Resume Mistakes and How to Avoid Them!<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQs_on_What_Not_to_Include_on_a_Resume\"><\/span>FAQs on What Not to Include on a Resume<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are 5 common mistakes on your resume you should avoid?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The top 5 common mistakes you should avoid on your fresher\u2019s resume are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Overloading the resumes with unnecessary info<\/li><li>Not tailoring the resume according to the job description<\/li><li>Not using a professional resume format for freshers<\/li><li>Neglecting the resume keywords<\/li><li>Not proofreading and ignoring spell-check<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is the most difficult part of making a resume?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The most difficult part of coming up with a resume is frequently creating the resume bullets. The most crucial duty is to adequately describe your experience; choosing the ideal style and structure and deciding which experiences to highlight in your resume might take some time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Should I put my address on my resume?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>No, your resume does not need to include your address. Most conversations in the modern workplace take place over the phone or over email. This renders the requirement for a complete address obsolete. On your resume, you should put a generic location instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are the 4 C&#8217;s of resume writing?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The 4 C&#8217;s of resume writing are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Creativity.<\/li><li>Communication.<\/li><li>Critical thinking<\/li><li>Collaboration.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why writing a professional resume is important for job search?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A resume is said to be your first point of contact with a recruiter and this mainly decides whether you will be shortlisted for the next round of selection process, i.e., personal interview or not. Therefore, there is no reason for which you can take the risk of committing any absurd resume writing mistake and ruining your chance of getting shortlisted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is the ideal font style for writing a resume?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The choice of font style and size plays a crucial role here. Some easy-to-read fonts are Arial, Calibri, and Times New Roman. Make your document look clean and leave white space between two paragraphs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is the common blunder jobseekers make when sending a resume to recruiters?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Avoiding proofreading increases your chances of committing common resume blunders such as typo errors and grammatical errors which are big turn-offs for employers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Your resume is often your first opportunity to make a lasting impression on potential employers. As a fresher or college student, crafting an effective resume is crucial to securing that &hellip; <br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.naukri.com\/campus\/career-guidance\/what-not-to-include-on-a-resume\" class=\"more\">Read More <em class=\"arrow\"><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":5188,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[905],"tags":[1091,1013,961,957],"class_list":["post-3129","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-resume","tag-firstnaukri-resume-maker","tag-free-online-resume-maker","tag-free-online-resume-maker-tool","tag-resume-tips"],"aioseo_notices":[],"amp_validity":null,"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.naukri.com\/campus\/career-guidance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3129","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.naukri.com\/campus\/career-guidance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.naukri.com\/campus\/career-guidance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.naukri.com\/campus\/career-guidance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.naukri.com\/campus\/career-guidance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3129"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.naukri.com\/campus\/career-guidance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3129\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.naukri.com\/campus\/career-guidance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5188"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.naukri.com\/campus\/career-guidance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3129"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.naukri.com\/campus\/career-guidance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3129"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.naukri.com\/campus\/career-guidance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3129"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}