The Dangers of Resume Overkill

Nearly everything written about resume design concentrates on what you should put in. But let’s look at what should be left out, or at least minimized.

Item #1: Salary history or salary requirements
No need.  Deal with it later in the interview process or through your recruiter.

Item #2: References
If you have high-impact or well known professional references, by all mean… include them. Otherwise, “References: Available Upon Request” will do just fine.

Item #3: Superfluous materials
When submitting a resume, avoid enclosing such items as your thesis, photos, diplomas, transcripts, product samples, newspaper articles, blueprints, designs, or letters of recommendation. These are all very good props that you can use during your interview, but not before. The only thing other than your resume that’s acceptable is your business card.

Item #4: Personal information
Leave out anything other than the absolute essentials such as, “Married, two children, willing to relocate, excellent health.” By listing your Masonic affiliation, save-the-whales activism or codependency support group, you could give the employer a reason to suspect that your outside activities may interfere with your work.

Remember, the greater the relevancy between your resume and the needs of the employer, the more seriously your candidacy will be considered.