When it comes to a landing a interview, what job seekers put on a resume could be as harmful as what they leave out. A 2010 survey by staffing agency Accountemps found that 28% of executives said that the resume is where most potential job candidates make mistakes in the entire application process. Finance magazine recently interviewed a number of career training professionals and resume writers to find out the best things a job seeker can leave out of their resume in order stand out from the crowd. Certified professional resume writer Ann Baehr told the publication that a candidate should never include details about their lives on a resume other than personal contact information. She said the only exception to the rule is for people seeking work at organizations with close ties to a cause, in which case, a person's religion may be worth mentioning. Old information, such as teenage summer jobs, should also be left out unless the job seeker is an undergraduate student or has limited work experience. Other information such as salary requirements, confidential information about a previous employer, references and reasons for leaving a job should all be left off because they are not necessary. Most importantly, job seekers should never lie, embellish or fabricate any information. The experts all agreed that even the smallest mistake can cost candidates a lucrative job offer. |