What Not to Include in the Resume

When it comes to writing your resume, knowing what to exclude is just as important as knowing what to include. In my experience as a hiring manager, I have reviewed thousands of resumes, and I’ve seen a lot of mistakes, especially from newcomers to Canada and the USA.

Often applicants would include personal information that HR is legally prohibited from asking for. It’s crucial to understand these boundaries to ensure your resume remains professional, compliant with local laws, and focused on the right skills and experiences.

Personal Information: Age, Date of Birth, and Gender

Avoid including personal details like your age, birthdate, or gender on your resume.

In Canada and the USA, employers are legally prohibited from discriminating based on age or gender. Listing this information could unintentionally invite bias.

Focus your resume on skills and experience, ensuring employers assess your qualifications without distraction.

Marital Status and Family Information

Another common mistake is including details about your marital status, whether you have children, or information about your family life.

Including these details can lead to unintentional bias and might give the impression that you are focusing on the wrong aspects of your life. Employers are primarily interested in your qualifications and experience.

Sexual Orientation

Your sexual orientation is private and should not appear on your resume. In Canada and the USA, discrimination based on sexual orientation is prohibited under human rights laws.

Photographs

While photographs may seem like a great way to personalize your resume, in both Canada and the USA, it’s generally not recommended to include a photo unless specifically requested by the employer.

Why?

• Discrimination Risk
• Professionalism:

Your resume is about showcasing your skills and experience, not your looks.

Social Insurance Number (SIN) or Social Security Number (SSN)

Your Social Insurance Number (SIN) in Canada or Social Security Number (SSN) in the USA is private and should never be included on your resume.

Why?

• Security Risk: Including your SIN or SSN can expose you to identity theft or other security risks. Employers do not need these numbers when reviewing your resume, and they typically only request this information after a job offer is made.
• Irrelevant to Intertwining: Your SIN or SSN has no relevance to the hiring process. It’s better to keep your resume focused on your qualifications and experience.

Irrelevant Job Experiences

Including job experiences that are not relevant to the position you’re applying for can hurt your chances. Hiring managers are looking for candidates who can show direct relevance to the role, so including unrelated positions can dilute the impact of your resume.

• Focus on including positions where you gained skills and experiences that align with the job you’re applying for.
• If you have work experiences that aren’t directly related but still show valuable transferable skills, you can briefly mention them, but avoid going into extensive detail.
• The only exception to this rule is if you can highlight transferable skills. For example, if you were waiting tables when you were a student, you can make a case that it have taught you dealing with difficult customers, which is a wonderful skill for a project manager.

Salary History or Expectations

It is generally not recommended to include your salary history or salary expectations on your resume. Employers typically ask about your salary expectations later in the interview process.

• Including salary history can put you at a disadvantage. Employers may offer you a salary based on your past compensation, even if you’re hoping for a higher pay scale.
• Your salary should be discussed during the negotiation phase, not in the resume stage.

References

While references are important, it’s not necessary to include them on your resume. Many candidates still list “References available upon request,” but this is redundant and takes up valuable space.

• If the employer is interested in your references, they will ask for them at the appropriate stage. Instead, save space to highlight your achievements and skills.

Conclusion

As a hiring manager, I have seen countless resumes over the years. Many of these resumes include unnecessary information that is not only irrelevant but could also hurt your chances of getting the job. To recap, here’s a list of things you should avoid including on your resume in Canada and the USA:

• Age, Date of Birth, Gender
• Marital Status and Family Information
• Sexual Orientation
• Photographs
• Social Insurance Number (SIN) or Social Security Number (SSN)
• Irrelevant Job Experiences
• Unprofessional Email Addresses
• Salary History or Expectations
• References

By following these guidelines, your resume will remain professional, focused on your qualifications, and compliant with the laws in Canada and the USA.