Leave These 5 Things Off

Think of your resume as your ticket to that coveted interview. It has to include all the pertinent information necessary to capture the hiring manager's attention and earn you an invite to meet with one or more of the organization's leaders. While this vital document should contain keywords and relevant job experience, there are several things it should not include. Be sure to leave these five things off your resume.

1. Objective Statement

Adding an objective statement to your resume is a thing of the past. For example, including a blurb that explains your desire to land a job in the marketing field seems redundant when you're applying for a job with an advertising agency. Rather than plugging in the tired old objective statement, replace it with an executive summary. Give a brief overview of who you are, the experience you have and the value you can bring to the organization.

2. Your GPA

While it's certainly important that you list your degrees and other certifications on your resume, there's some educational information that's not necessary. Don't include your GPA, and avoid listing out courses you took in college. It's also unnecessary to include the date you graduated from high school or started college. Your college graduation month and year are all you need.

3. Irrelevant Jobs

You may think it's imperative that you list every job you've ever held, but hiring managers often view this information as overkill. If you're applying for a job in the finance industry, the firm won't care much about your high school job as a movie theater ticketing agent or your waitressing job you held in college. List the jobs that relate to the position for which you're applying, and remember to include internships if they're relevant.

4. Hobbies

Potential employers usually want to find employees who are well-rounded and have a variety of interests. However, it's not a good idea to mention your love of gardening, your passion for golf or your interest in amateur photography on your resume. Unless your extracurricular activities directly relate to the position or industry, keep this information off of your resume. Only include your related work experience, job skills and significant achievements.

5. Fancy Formatting

There's no need to think outside of the box and attempt a never-before-seen resume format, unless perhaps you're applying for a position with a creative firm. The majority of hiring managers want to see a crisp, clean resume that's professional, easy to read and ideally limited to one page in length.

Never let your resume be an afterthought. Take the time to craft a professional document that displays you in your best light. Include information that helps you shine, and be sure to leave these five things out of you resume.

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