Don't Add These Things to Your Resume

Sometimes writing resumes inspire you to step outside of the box, especially if you've been writing them for years and feel that what's been tried hasn't always been true. There's nothing wrong with trying something new. For instance, many are learning that adding testimonials is something that some hiring managers love to see.

However, there are things you don't want to add to your resume under most circumstances because they detract from the quality of the document. Let's look at a few things that, in terms of a resume, are best left unseen.

Your References

In this day and age, adding references to a resume just takes up unnecessary space. Often times, companies don't plan to call with the references you've given them because they know of other ways to find background information on you. However, this doesn't mean that they could never want to see what others have to say about you. To be safe, just allow them to ask for references and don't mention them on your resume at all. 

Your Picture

Any person offering certified resume help will tell you that adding your picture to your resume is a no-no unless you're a model, actor, comedian or a part of some other form of entertainment. What you look like has nothing to do with your ability to perform a job, so the last thing you want is to encourage this feeling from an employer.

Personal Attributes

Like your picture, your personal attributes (height, weight, age, race) don't need to be added to your resume and should never be asked of you even during the interviewing stage unless you're applying for a job in the entertainment field. Companies are strictly prohibited from discriminating against candidates based on personal attributes, so there's no need to address this topic at all.

A "Me, Me, Me" Objective

Using objective statements is slowly but surely becoming a thing of the past on resumes. But if you do choose to use one, it's good to make sure that it steers away from the idea that you want the job to fulfill all of your hopes and dreams. Of course, you secretly want to enhance your career, but in the eyes of the company, if your plan is not to work to help them out, they will find someone whose is.

It may be tempting to add something to your resume to make it stand out. But before you add the items listed above, think twice as they could negatively affect your chances of being hired for the position you want.