Five Resume Reminders, Courtesy of the IRS

There are some things that you just shouldn't do.

I was reminded of this while watching CBS Sunday Morning today. A worker for H&R Block was explaining all of the ways that past clients had tried to lie on their taxes: making up home offices, inventing dependents that didn't exist, and other nefarious yet creative actions.

Not good. Not smart. You would never do something so foolish.

But you are.

Resumes-despite all of the advice dispensed by professional after professional-are still found violating these intractable no-nos. Follow these to keep your application materials from not getting a trashcan audit:

Do not put a photo or birthdate: Employers don't want this information on a resume. At the resume stage of the game it's too personal, with some HR departments fearing that-knowing this information-they could open themselves up to discrimination lawsuits. So keep it off. Note: the situation is a bit different here in Europe, where this practice isn't necessarily frowned upon, but in America keep the photo and birthday off.

Do not include an objective: Objectives boggle my mind. I know what your objective is: it's to get my darn job! Substitute a strong summary of qualifications statement in lieu of an objective to quickly summarize your qualifications and accomplishments.

Do not only list your work locations and dates of employment: Your resume should not simply be a chronology of your work history. Employers are going to want to see how what you have done in your past directly relates (or relates as closely as possible) with the position available. They want to know the details, not just where you worked. On that note, be sure to...

Do not omit your accomplishments: Your job duties ("Sold men's clothing") are different from your accomplishments ("Increased sales 43% during tenure in the men's clothing section"). Highlight your accomplishments in your resume, particularly as they relate to the position being applied for.

Do not lie on your resume: About anything. Ever. Period. And if you have to ask, you probably shouldn't put it on there.

Make a strong case to a future employer and outshine the competition by heeding these "do not dos."

When is it Acceptable to Use Personal Information on a Resume?

I am member of several resume writing professional organizations. On a recent e-list posting, another writer posed the question of whether or not she should list on her customer's resume for entry into graduate school that he was a former Abercrombie & Fitch model. My immediate response to this query was a resounding . . . Yes, if the audience is right. Think of how much curiosity this one simple statement would arouse in both male and female hiring authorities.

If you have followed my blog posts, you know that I am not a proponent of putting personal information on the resume. However, there are - like most rules - some exceptions to this rule. Let's explore a few.

Your Information Will Intrigue the Interviewer
Resumes are meant to entice the reader to want to call you. Whether they are enticed by your qualifications or the fact that they want to see a real-life A&F model in-person is irrelevant once you walk in the door and make your interview "sales pitch." If you have something in your background that you feel is a talking point, or a conversation starter, then by all means find a way to include this information.

Your Information Will Show your Passion for Their Industry
I once had a customer that was retiring from the newspaper industry. He was a self-proclaimed NASCAR fanatic. His goal was a job - any job - in the NASCAR industry. He was a volunteer pit crew member, he had season tickets to 4 different raceways across the country and he had never missed a Daytona 500 race in more than 10 years. All of this information was vital to demonstrating his passion and interest in his career field of choice.

Volunteerism, hobbies, and clubs or organizations should definitely be included on two conditions. First, that the information is relevant and second that the experience will demonstrate that you have gained first-hand knowledge of the industry through your "extra-curricular" activities.

You Received a Prestigious or Recognizable Award
I work with a lot of military transition job seekers. One of the hardest habits for them to break is talking about (and listing on their resume) all their awards and decorations. Most of these do not mean anything significant to anyone outside their military branch.

However, there are recognitions, such as the Purple Heart or Medal of Valor, that everyone understands has some value and meaning behind the award. When listing awards or achievements, be sure to talk briefly in the resume why you were awarded the particular honor.