When writing a resume, there's some information that should be included and some that isn't important to a prospective employer. Some pieces of personal information are integral to building a good resume, such as your name, telephone number, email address and other pertinent contact information. Other bits of personal information, such as age, sex, religion and political affiliation should not be included in a resume.
Include your valid contact information on your resume. Make sure when you write your resume that you have provided a way for the employer to make contact. Don't assume that simply sending a resume through email suffices to provide a method of continued communication. A resume should include your name, address, telephone number and email address. Though an employer may not use a mailing address as a means of contact, it can be used to determine whether or not a candidate is located within an easily commutable distance from the employment location. A candidate in Atlanta who's applying for a job in Los Angeles may not meet the immediate needs of the employer. An employer should also be able to contact an applicant easily to convey interest in employing the applicant or to express regrets in the event that another applicant is chosen.
Some personal information, such as gender, sexual preference, religion and political affiliations, should never be included on a resume. These items are not applicable to most job positions and may be considered as fluff on a resume. Some of them are, in fact, illegal for an employer even to ask about. Other personal information that shouldn't appear on a resume includes hobbies and other non-work related items, such as sports team affiliations. Awards and social affiliations that are applicable to the position, which include workplace awards or professional organization memberships, can be included if there is space available.
Some people consider listing dates on a resume as a case of revealing too much personal information. Previous dates of employment are usually necessary on your resume. However, the dates of your graduation from high school, college, vocational school or other secondary education are not required. The applicant’s birth date should not be included. Sensitive identifying information such as your driver’s license number or Social Security number should never be included on a resume. If you get the job, your new employer will request a copy of any identification needed for employment or tax purposes.
When writing a resume, include the minimum amount of personal information possible. Prospective employers are likely to consider too much personal information on a resume as reckless, uninformed or filler information. When you include too much personal information on a resume, you hurt your chances of gaining an interview or employment.
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