16 things you should remove from your resume

16 things you should remove from your resume16 things you should remove from your resumeQuit distracting recruiters with ansicht unnecessary resume items today.An eye-tracking study by Ladders found that the average recruiter spends only six seconds reviewing a resume before deciding if its worth a closer inspection. When you only have six seconds to make the right impression, you have to make every word on your resume count. (Before reading on, get an idea of where you stand by reviewing your resume with the Ladders Resume Reviewer.)Related from Ladders18 words and phrases smart people never include on their resumesStudy This is exactly how much you can brag on your resume before it backfires6 keys to declutter your resume right nowBelow Ive compiled a list of 16 items you can remove from your resume right away that will help your job application avoid the hiring managers trash pile.ObjectiveWeve all seen those generic objective statements talk about professional looking for oppor tunities that will allow me to leverage my skills. Avoid the run-of-the-mill objective statement and replace it with your elevator pitch. In a brief paragraph, explain what youre great at, most interested in, and how you can provide value to a prospective employer. In other words, summarize your job goals and qualifications for the reader.Head shotUnless youre creating a CV to apply to positions outside of the United States, or youre in the entertainment world and a head shot is part of the job, you should never include a picture of yourself with your resume. Your photo will likely clue the employer into your nationality, religion and age (among other factors) that could inadvertently lead to discrimination. No need to give them any of those details until theyve considered your application based solely on your qualifications. Play it geldschrank and leave the head shot off your resume.Inappropriate email addressesThe email address hotbuns3559domain.com may have been cute when you were in college, but its not the best choice to represent your professional brand today. The same goes for shared family accounts such as joe_and_jane_kanedomain.com and email addresses that are offensive or sexual in nature. Do yourself a favor and sign up for a free address with a provider like Gmail thats reserved exclusively for your job-search and networking activities.Mailing addressIf youd like to relocate for work, you probably already know its best to leave your current address off your resume. However, its becoming increasingly common for professionals to remove this information, regardless of their target location. If youre searching for a position in your current location and want employers to know youre a local candidate, include your city and state. However, leave your street address off to protect yourself from potential identity theft.Multiple phone numbersDo you remember the scene in the movie Hes Just Not That Into You where Drew Barrymores character is complaining about playing phone (and email and Facebook and text) tag with a potential suitor? The more phone numbers you introduce into the mix, the easier it is to miss an important message from a prospective employer. Avoid this confusion by listing one phone number, preferably the number for your mobile phone, where you control the voicemail, who picks up the phone, and when.Personal detailsTheres no need to include rolleal information such as your social security number, marital status, nationality or spiritual beliefs. In fact, it is illegal for an employer to ask for these personal details. I also recommend removing your hobbies from the resume. Unless youre incredibly new to the workforce or your activities are directly related to your target job, youre merely wasting resume real estate.Irrelevant social media accountsNot only is this information a waste of resume space, but including personal social media accounts that arent aligned with your professional brand can derail your job sea rch. Remove these links from your resume and take steps to safeguard your brand.Flesh out at least one professional profile on sites like LinkedIn, GitHub, or About.Me, depending upon your line of work, and include the link at the top of your resume. If you work in a creative field, consider creating a personal site that has a mobile-responsive design so you can share your portfolio from any device.Current employers contact infoRemember, this contact information will be used by recruiters to contact you. Do you really want them calling you at work or using an email address that can be monitored by your current employer? Dont inadvertently tip your boss off about your job-search activities. Always list your personal email address and phone number on your resume and job applications. The same goes for any social media accounts associated with your professional brand.Embedded tablesDont include embedded tables or images in your resume and avoid using the actual Header and Footer sectio ns of the Word document, as these can confuse the employers online applicant tracking system, known as an ATS system, and scramble your job application.Crazy fonts and colorsWhen choosing your resume font, stick to ones that are considered easy to read and wont confuse the ATS systems Arial, Calibri, Cambria, Tahoma, Book Antiqua or Franklin Gothic. If youre in a creative position, save the creative designs for your online portfolio. Employers still need a version of your resume that can be easily uploaded, parsed and stored in their online tracking system.Fluffy buzzwordsWhile it can be tempting to throw a few buzzwords such as proactive and self-motivated into a professional summary, recruiters know these terms are mere fluff and wont be impressed when they see them. In fact, a survey by CareerBuilder found these words to be among hiring managers top 17 resume turn-offs. Instead of telling employers that youre a value-add, use strong action verbs explain how you were able to impro ve a process, increase revenue or cut costs.I or meWhile there is some debate among HR professionals these days about the need to add a more personal tone to resumes, the generally accepted practice is to refrain from referring to yourself in the first person with pronouns such as I or me. Similarly, dont use pronouns or your name to talk about yourself in the third person (i.e. John is an accomplished IT professional He is seeking opportunities to ___).Salary historyTheres no need to include salary information or hourly pay rates for roles you previously held. Its not only unnecessary it may send the wrong message to employers. Remember, your resume should showcase the value your professional experience and skills provide not its cost to former employers. If a job application asks for salary requirements, address these questions in your cover letter.Unrelated informationYou may be proud to coach your sons baseball team or run the annual bake sale at your church, but this informati on doesnt belong on your resume. If its not relevant to your target job goals, reconsider its place on your resume. Would the hiring manager reading your resume find this information valuable or would they ask themselves, So what?Too much of the pastEmployers are especially interested in your most recent experience and how that ties back to their open positions requirements. If youre an entry-level professional, its time to take out any references to your high school career. Instead, focus on highlighting your education, relevant internships and the leadership skills youve developed during college. If youre further along in your career, limit your resume to include the most recent 15 years of experience in reverse-chronological order and remove the dates from any degrees, certifications or awards that fall outside that 15-year window.References upon requestWhether youre new to the workforce or a seasoned professional, your resume real estate is precious. Dont waste space by listing your references or including a note such as References available upon request at the bottom of your resume. Employers dont ask for that information until you make it to a face-to-face interview, and they know youll provide it if they request it.