A lot of people think that you need to include everything on your resume, but the truth is that a great resume is simply a snapshot of your career that articulates your value and makes the reader want to learn more about you as a candidate. While there are some items that are critical to include on your resume, there are actually a lot of things you can leave off. Here are four items you can leave off your resume:
Your Address
While including your city and state of residence can be beneficial, there is no need to include your full address on your resume. When you list your full address on your resume, you’re essentially putting your address on the internet for everyone to see. Employers won’t ask for your address until you’re filling out your onboarding information, so there is no need to unnecessarily put this information out there.
If a recruiter or potential employer asks for your address up front, it might be a big red flag that something isn’t right. Never feel compelled to share information that you’re not comfortable giving out.
Hobbies
Including side projects or volunteer work is a great idea, but there is no need to include information about your hobbies on your resume. Hobbies can be integrated into your LinkedIn profile to show more of your personality, or can be used as a talking point during an interview, however there’s no need to include them on a resume.
Your resume is meant to show what you’ve accomplished in your career, and every bit of space is precious. Instead of using resume space to share that you love to cook or read, use the space to highlight what you’ve accomplished in each role, and save the information about your hobbies for another conversation. There’s nothing wrong with sharing information about what you enjoy, but when it comes to your resume, you should be using the space to show what you bring to the table in a professional capacity.
College Classes (if you’re out of school and have at least one post graduate job under your belt)
Unless you’re currently in college or recently graduated (looking for your first job out of college) there is no need to include information about the classes you took in college. Once you’ve made it past your first or second entry level job, employers care more about what you’ve accomplished at work than what you learned in a classroom. Education is important, but on the job experience always take precedence.
With that said, if you are currently in school or just out of school searching for your first job, college classes or class projects are a great way to bolster your resume and highlight your industry knowledge.
Education Dates (unless you are just out of or currently in school)
Don’t include dates of education unless you are just out of or currently in school. If you’ve just graduated or are currently in school, dates will give perspective on why you don’t have much experience.
Once you’re a couple years out of school, don’t include dates of education on your resume. Education dates actually work against candidates is most situations. A recent education date (regardless of experience) can give the notion that someone is too “green” or inexperienced for the job. On the flip side, education dates that are a while back can give the notion that someone has too much experience for the position.
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Contrary to popular belief, your resume does not need to include every single piece of information about your career. It is simply meant to provide a good overview of what you’ve achieved and what you can bring to the table. These four items you can leave off your resume will help you create a more streamlined and aesthetically pleasing document.