Avoid Bad grammar and obscure words
Describing yourself as a "Verry detail oriented multi-taster" is likely to get no other response than, "Yeah, right" before it's passed around the HR department for laughs--and then tossed. And don't try to impress with big words. No one needs to know you are endowed with "sophrosyne," when "good sense" will do.
Cut out all the irrelevant work experiences
If you're still listing that prized shift leader position from your high school days, it's time to move on.Yes, you might've been the "king of making milkshakes," but unless you're planning on redeeming that title, it's time to get rid of all that clutter.
Your short-term jobs.
Short-term jobs raise red flags for hiring managers, who will wonder if you were fired, couldn't do the work, or had trouble getting along with co-workers. Plus, a few months on a job won't typically be useful in showing any real accomplishments or advancement anyway.
Any Personal Data Beyond Your Contact Information
Do not include any personal information beyond your address, email, and phone number. Leave out your age,religion, political affiliation, and the names and ages of your spouse and/or children. While some of this information may be required in a CV, it should be left out of a resume.
Your salary
Resumes don't typically include a salary history, so candidates who include it come across as naive. And by sharing that information unbidden, you'll also compromise your negotiating power later.
Extra pages
If you're in your 20s, your resume should only be one page; there's not enough experience to justify a second one. If you're older, two pages are fine, but you go over that limit at your own peril. Hiring managers may spend only 20 or 30 seconds on your application initially, so extra pages are either ignored or they dilute the impact of the others. Your resume should be for highlights, not extensive detail.
Avoid Negative Words/Ideas
Avoid saying what you did not do or have not yet accomplished; focus on what you have done or are in the process of achieving. For example, if you are still in college, do not say "not yet graduated," but instead list the year in which you will graduate. If you didn't graduate, simply list the dates you attended. Instead of saying that you have "limited experience" in administrative work, simply provide examples of your previous experience.
"References Available Upon Request"
Generally it is assumed that a job applicant will have references. Instead of including the references on your resume or saying "references available upon request," you can send the hiring manager a separate sheet of references or wait until you are asked to provide references.
Criminal Record
If you get hired, the company will likely conduct a search of your criminal record. However, there is no need to include this information on your resume.
A crazy objective
So you want to be the next Bill Gates. Terrific! And you may even have the chops to make it happen. But please don't put it in your objective statement. Outlandish, overconfident, or "out there" objective statements almost always ensure that the rest of your resume isn't read.
Posted in: Career
