A resume may be the only opportunity you have for making a good first impression with a prospective employer, and getting your foot in the door for an interview. It is therefore worth your while to invest some time making it the best resume possible.
Here are five things you should consider leaving off your CV:
1) Political or religious affiliation – Unless you are applying for a job within a political or religious organization, avoid referencing any involvement you might have with these organizations. Besides opening you up to possible discrimination, it’s also irrelevant to the position you’re applying for.
2) Photo & Personal Information – Unless you are applying for a job as a model or actor, you should not include a photo of yourself. Likewise, you should give your date of birth, gender, marital status, height or weight. They are no business of the employer and human rights legislation prevents employers from discriminating on these bases
3) Gaps – A professional CV shouldn’t have large gaps you can’t explain. Medical leave, caring for family, and other absences should be explained with a few brief sentences.
4) Salary History – Any discussion about salary is best left until much later in the hiring process, ideally after you have interviewed at least once with the employer. Salary is very much a process of negotiation and revealing your salary history could put you at a significant disadvantage in the negotiation process.
5) References – This is considered filler for a resume. You will be asked for references if you make it to the next step in the interview process. However, on LinkedIn, try to collect as many recommendations as you can.
To read 3 tips in regards how to address unemployment on your CV, please click here >>>
