What Not to Put on a Resume

Your resume is a carefully curated marketing document designed to win you an interview. Every element should serve that purpose—and anything that doesn’t actively help can actively hurt. The challenge is that many job seekers include information that seems harmless or even helpful but actually works against them.

Some of these mistakes come from outdated advice. Resume conventions have changed dramatically, and what was standard practice twenty years ago can mark your resume as dated today. Other mistakes come from over-sharing, including personal details that have no place in professional contexts. Still others come from misunderstanding what hiring managers want to see.

This comprehensive guide covers everything you should exclude from your resume. From outdated elements to irrelevant information to potentially damaging content, you’ll learn what to leave off and understand why. By knowing what not to include, you’ll create a focused, professional document that presents your candidacy in its best light.

Outdated Resume Elements

Resume conventions evolve, and certain elements that were once standard are now considered dated or unnecessary.

“References available upon request” This phrase wastes valuable space stating the obvious. Employers assume you’ll provide references if asked; you don’t need to announce it. Remove this from any resume where it appears.

Objective statements The traditional objective statement (“Seeking a challenging position where I can utilize my skills…”) has been largely replaced by professional summaries. Objective statements focus on what you want rather than what you offer, which is backwards for a marketing document.

Physical address with street and apartment number Full addresses are no longer needed and create privacy concerns. City and state (or just metropolitan area) is sufficient for most positions. Some candidates omit location entirely if willing to relocate or targeting remote positions.

Personal pronouns Resumes traditionally use implied first person without “I,” “me,” or “my.” While this convention is loosening slightly, most professional resumes still avoid pronouns.

“References available upon request” This statement is unnecessary in modern resumes—employers will ask for references when they need them. Delete it.

Date of birth and age Age information has no place on modern resumes and opens the door to age discrimination. Never include your birth date, graduation year without context, or other age-indicating information.

Marital status and family information Your marital status, number of children, and family details are irrelevant to your professional qualifications and shouldn’t appear on your resume.

“Curriculum Vitae” or “Resume” as a header Don’t label your document “Resume” or “CV”—they’ll know what it is. Use that header space for your name instead.

Personal Information to Exclude

Certain personal details, while possibly important to you, have no place on a professional resume.

Social Security Number Never include your SSN on a resume. Identity theft is a real concern, and no legitimate employer needs this before hiring you.

Photographs (in most countries) In the United States, Canada, UK, and Australia, photos don’t belong on resumes and can enable discrimination. Some countries do expect photos, so know your target market’s norms.

Religious affiliation Unless directly relevant to the position (applying to a religious organization), religious beliefs have no place on your resume.

Political affiliations Similar to religious affiliation, your political views typically don’t belong on professional resumes. Even volunteer work for political campaigns is best framed in terms of skills gained rather than political allegiance.

Gender or gender pronouns While some candidates choose to include pronouns, gender information is typically not necessary and could enable discrimination.

Height, weight, or physical characteristics Unless applying for jobs where physical attributes are genuinely relevant (modeling, certain performing arts roles), this information doesn’t belong on your resume.

Irrelevant hobbies and interests Hobbies that don’t connect to your professional brand or demonstrate relevant skills are wasted space. “Reading” and “traveling” tell employers nothing useful. If you include hobbies, make them specific and relevant.

Salary Information

Salary expectations and history generally don’t belong on resumes.

Salary requirements Including salary expectations can screen you out prematurely or anchor negotiations unfavorably. Save salary discussions for later in the process when you have more leverage.

Previous salary information Your past compensation isn’t relevant to what you should earn in a new role and can anchor negotiations against you. In many jurisdictions, employers can’t even legally ask about salary history.

Hourly rates or compensation details Even for freelance experience, including specific rates you charged can work against you. Focus on the value you delivered instead.

Irrelevant Work Experience

Not all experience deserves resume space, and some detracts from your professional image.

Jobs from more than 15 years ago (in most cases) Unless highly relevant or representing your most significant achievements, ancient history typically doesn’t need detail. Early career jobs can be summarized or omitted entirely.

Every job you’ve ever had Your resume isn’t a complete employment history—it’s a marketing document. Include what’s relevant and impressive; omit or minimize the rest.

Brief or unsuccessful employment Jobs lasting only a few weeks or months (unless contract positions where brevity is expected) can raise red flags. If you left quickly or were terminated, consider omitting the position if it won’t create a noticeable gap.

Irrelevant student jobs If you’re several years into your career, that college fast-food job probably doesn’t need to be included unless it demonstrates something specific and relevant.

Volunteer work that isn’t relevant While volunteer experience can strengthen resumes, especially for career changers or those with gaps, include only what adds value to your professional narrative.

Using tools like 0portfolio.com to organize your career history helps you evaluate what experience is worth including and what to leave off, ensuring your resume presents only the most relevant and impressive portions of your background.

Problematic Language and Content

How you describe your experience matters as much as what experience you include.

Vague descriptions without specifics “Responsible for various projects” tells employers nothing. Vague language suggests you either didn’t accomplish much or can’t articulate your contributions.

Clichés and buzzwords without substance “Team player,” “hard worker,” “detail-oriented,” and similar clichés are empty without evidence. Show these qualities through accomplishments rather than claiming them with overused phrases.

Jargon and acronyms without explanation Industry-specific terminology that’s not universal may confuse readers. Spell out acronyms at first use and explain jargon that might not translate across companies or industries.

Negative language about previous employers Never criticize former employers, colleagues, or companies on your resume. This includes subtle negative framing like “left due to poor management.” Stay neutral or positive.

Obvious skills that don’t need listing “Proficient in Microsoft Word” and “can use email” are so basic they suggest you have nothing more impressive to list. Focus on skills that differentiate you.

Exaggerated or false claims Embellishing experience or claiming credentials you don’t have can backfire badly. Background checks, interviews, and on-the-job performance reveal lies.

Formatting Problems to Avoid

Poor formatting choices undermine even strong content.

Multiple fonts and inconsistent formatting Using too many fonts or inconsistent formatting looks unprofessional. Stick to one or two clean fonts and maintain consistent formatting throughout.

Headers and footers with important information Many ATS systems can’t read headers and footers. Don’t put your name, contact info, or any important content there.

Text boxes and tables While visually appealing, text boxes and tables often can’t be parsed by ATS systems. Your beautifully designed resume may become garbled text or entirely unreadable.

Images, graphics, and logos Unless you’re in a design field (and even then, be careful), graphics clutter resumes and cause ATS problems. Company logos, headshots, and decorative elements typically don’t belong.

Colored backgrounds and unusual paper Stick to white or very light backgrounds. Dark backgrounds, bright colors, and unusual paper colors scan poorly and can appear unprofessional.

Tiny fonts to fit everything in If you need to shrink your font below 10-11 points to fit your content, you have too much content. Edit ruthlessly instead of shrinking text.

Dense blocks of text without white space Resumes need visual breathing room. Dense text is hard to read and suggests you don’t understand communication principles.

Information That Ages You Unnecessarily

Some content can reveal or suggest age in ways that may work against you.

Graduation dates from decades ago If you graduated more than 15-20 years ago, consider omitting the year. Your degree matters; when you got it often doesn’t.

“Over 30 years of experience” While experience is valuable, emphasizing how many decades you’ve worked can trigger age bias. Focus on relevant recent experience instead.

Outdated technology and skills Listing proficiency in obsolete technologies dates you. Microsoft Office 2003, WordPerfect, and similar dated references suggest you haven’t kept current.

Long lists of employers from early career A two-page list of every employer since 1985 reveals your age and suggests you may not understand modern resume practices.

Reasons for Leaving Jobs

Your resume should focus on what you did and achieved, not why you left.

“Left due to downsizing” “Terminated” “Company went out of business” “Better opportunity”

None of these belong on your resume. Reasons for leaving are interview discussion topics, not resume content.

Controversial or Potentially Problematic Content

Some content, while technically legal to include, carries risks.

Controversial organizations or causes Membership in organizations that are politically controversial, even if legal and meaningful to you, can create bias. Consider carefully whether inclusion helps or hurts.

Certain military experience details While military service is generally respected, specific operations or units with controversial histories might warrant careful framing.

Religious or political volunteer work Volunteer work for churches, mosques, political campaigns, or advocacy organizations can reveal beliefs some hiring managers might react to negatively. Frame in terms of skills and achievements rather than ideology when possible.

Social media handles (usually) Unless your social media presence is professional, relevant, and impressive, don’t invite employers to examine it. LinkedIn is usually sufficient.

Skills That Hurt More Than Help

Not all skills deserve mention, and some inclusions backfire.

Basic computer skills “Proficient in Microsoft Office” is so basic it suggests you have nothing more impressive to offer. Everyone is expected to know Word, Excel basics, and email.

Skills you’re not actually good at Listing a skill sets expectations. If you claim Excel proficiency but struggle with basic formulas, you’ll disappoint in interviews or on the job.

Soft skills without evidence “Excellent communicator” as a listed skill is less convincing than accomplishments that demonstrate communication ability. Show, don’t tell.

Outdated certifications without current relevance That certification from 2005 may no longer be current or relevant. Include only certifications that strengthen your candidacy for today’s positions.

Languages at beginner levels “Conversational Spanish (basic)” doesn’t help your candidacy. Include only languages where you have genuine professional or advanced fluency.

Education Details That Don’t Help

Not all educational information belongs on professional resumes.

GPA (usually, especially if mediocre) GPA typically doesn’t belong on resumes once you’re beyond entry-level, and even then only if it’s strong. A 2.7 GPA doesn’t need to be listed.

High school information (for most professionals) Once you have higher education or substantial work experience, high school details typically don’t add value.

Incomplete degrees without explanation Listing a degree you didn’t finish without context raises questions. Either explain (in cover letter, not resume) or consider omitting.

Every training course you’ve ever taken Include only training and professional development that’s relevant and impressive. Your two-hour webinar from 2018 probably doesn’t make the cut.

Academic honors from decades ago Dean’s List from 1995 probably doesn’t strengthen your 2025 job application.

Length and Relevance Issues

Resumes should be as long as they need to be—and no longer.

Every responsibility from every job Focus on accomplishments and key responsibilities that demonstrate relevant skills. Complete job descriptions aren’t necessary or helpful.

Redundant information repeated across positions If multiple roles involved similar responsibilities, you don’t need to describe the same things multiple times.

Content that doesn’t support your target role Everything on your resume should build the case for the specific positions you’re pursuing. Impressive but irrelevant accomplishments don’t help.

Third page for most candidates While executives with extensive relevant experience might warrant three pages, most professionals should stay at one to two pages.

How to Decide What to Exclude

When evaluating whether something belongs on your resume, ask these questions:

Does this help my candidacy for my target role? If the answer is no or unclear, consider removing it.

Would a hiring manager care about this? Imagine you’re the person hiring for your target role. Would this information matter to you?

Is this the most effective use of this resume space? Every section of your resume has opportunity cost. Is this content the best possible use of this space?

Could this create bias or raise concerns? Information that might trigger negative assumptions, even unfairly, might be better omitted.

Is this current and relevant? Outdated information can hurt more than help. Focus on current, relevant content.

Exceptions and Context

Most rules have exceptions, and resume rules are no different.

Industry norms vary. Creative industries may expect visual elements that traditional industries would find inappropriate. Know your target industry’s conventions.

Career level affects what’s appropriate. Entry-level candidates might include more educational detail; executives might include board memberships that mid-career professionals wouldn’t.

International markets have different standards. Resume conventions vary by country. Research your target market’s expectations.

Specific situations may require specific information. Certain government applications require complete employment history. Some academic CVs follow entirely different conventions. Know when exceptions apply.

Conclusion

What you leave off your resume is nearly as important as what you include. Every irrelevant, outdated, or problematic element diminishes the impact of your genuine qualifications. Every line of wasted space is a line not devoted to your actual value proposition.

Think of resume editing like sculpting: you’re removing everything that isn’t the strong professional image you want to present. Personal details, outdated conventions, irrelevant experience, and problematic content all obscure rather than reveal your best professional self.

The result of ruthless editing is a focused, professional document where every element earns its place. Hiring managers can quickly see your relevant qualifications without wading through extraneous information. ATS systems can parse your content without stumbling on formatting issues. Your resume tells a clear, compelling story about what you offer.

Review your current resume with fresh eyes, looking specifically for content from this guide that might be hurting your candidacy. You may be surprised how much stronger your resume becomes when you remove what doesn’t belong.