Face to Face
With Fred Coon

February 17, 2004 - 20 Pet Peeves Recruiters Have About Resumes
Courtesy of Mike Worthington, ResumeDoctor.com

# 10 - Personal Info Not Relevant to the Job

Not only is including personal info that is unrelated to the job a waste of space, but it can actually hurt you. You never want to include information that could be viewed in the wrong way or open up even the slightest temptation for prejudice or misinterpretation. Recruiters do not need to know your age, height, weight, marital status, sexual orientation, religious or political affiliations, or even about your hobbies. They are trying to fill an open job requisition, not match you for a blind date.

There are times when there will be exceptions. For example: If you were applying for a position as a computer programmer at Burton Snowboards, and your hobby happens to be snowboarding, then definitely include this related information. Your hobby in this case offers value to the potential employer and will work as a benefit to you. Your familiarity with the snowboarding lifestyle and industry could help to open the door for that all-important first interview.

One recruiter shared with us that he recently received a resume from a candidate who included his shoe size. Another recruiter also sent us a story about a candidate who included his dead daughter's bio on his resume. Needless to say, this info has no place on a resume. Your resume is your personal selling tool and should be clear of any and all non-related information.

Recruiter’s likes and dislikes in a resume were surveyed nation-wide by Mike Worthington of ResumeDoctor.com. FACE to FACE will publish all twenty pet peeves in this column over the next months.

ResumeDoctor.com is a service provided by Personnel Department Inc. PDI is Vermont’s largest independently owned staffing agency. They have been locally owned and operated for over 14 years. They have been featured in many publications, TV news programs, and radio broadcasts. You may contact them at: http://www.resumedoctor.com.

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About the Author: Fred Coon