Resume: 5 Other Elements to Eliminate

In another article, I shared five elements that diminish the impact of a good resume. The following list has five other components that may not be as critical but you should consider when creating or editing your job search materials:

1. Unprofessional contact information. It should be obvious but worth reinforcing that even if the e-mail you provide is personal, it should still have a professional air to it (e.g., avoid teddybear82 at mail dot com). It's not necessary to provide multiple contact options, only the most effective one. If you want to add a long URL (e.g., a LinkedIn profile), only do so if it provides additional information that is critical. Finally, you don't have to provide contact information for past employers; if it's required, you'll be asked for it explicitly during the process.

2. Photograph. It should only be included for acting and modeling roles, in a very specific format. The rest of us have to fight the temptation of sharing our good looks. However, this is different for Internet profiles, where a picture is actually expected.

3. Personal data. If the employer needs this information, he will ask for it at some point in the process. You shouldn't point out in your resume your date and place of birth, marital status, number and name of your children, etc. It's important to mention that in some countries it's even illegal for a company to ask some of these elements.

4. Spelling errors. Unacceptable if you're looking for a job where the employee is expected to know how to write or if anyone can help you proofreading. Remember that the spelling correction in your word processor is not infallible. You should carefully review before sending out.

5. Unusual formatting. The resume should jump out due to its content and not because of an "attractive" font, special paper or inserted pictures. For candidates who are just entering the workforce, a single-page resume format should be enough, two or three for experienced professionals, and even longer for a technical resume or CV (e.g., including a list of publications). Be careful not to have too much or too little blank space, any of these extremes has its disadvantages. Although it's not common, you don't need to include an index. If the information is clear, labels like "Title" and "Company" are redundant.

Although the use of these elements may vary by industry or function, do assess their effect on recruiters as you build your job search strategy.

Hugo M. Breton is a business writer and job search coach specializing in resume writing, career coaching and B2B Copywriting. His objective is to help professionals become more effective during their search efforts. Hugo shares his job search advice and provides services through http://www.resumesforimpact.com/, helping prospects improve the impact of their efforts.