Which of the following should not be included in the contact information section of your résumé?

/en/resumewriting/resume-tips-and-strategies/content/

Regardless of which resume format you use, you will still need to include the correct information written in a way that sells your professional expertise to a hiring manager. What you choose to include on your resume can make or break your entire job search effort. So what should you include to improve your chances?

It all starts with your name and other contact information. In this lesson, you'll learn what contact information to include and how to place it on your resume. You will also have an opportunity to create your own resume starting with adding contact information.

You probably already know that your contact information—which includes your name, address, phone number, and email address—should always appear at the top of your resume, regardless of which resume format you are using.

But did you know that some employers actually use the contact information section to screen undesirable candidates? They may pass you over if you live in another part of the country in order to avoid paying relocation costs. Or they may form a negative opinion of you if your contact information is inappropriate in some way. A lot of hiring managers today will even use this information to search for you on popular social networking sites to see what is posted about you. So what should you include to make sure your resume doesn't get eliminated?

Always put your full name (first and last) at the top of each page of your resume.You can use your given name (Joseph), or a preferred name (Joe). You can also include your middle name or initial if you prefer.However, we recommend that you don't use a nickname that may appear unprofessional, such as Bubba or Ace.

You'll most likely be contacted by potential employers via email, so it's especially important to include an email address. Make sure to check your email messages regularly when searching for a position, as many employers now expect quick responses.

However, be sure to use a professional email address. An address like [email protected] may give an employer the wrong impression.

List your preferred phone number for employers to contact you. Make sure that you have a professional and courteous voicemail greeting in case you are unable to answer the phone.

Include your full mailing address in a standard format, like this:

More often than not, a potential employer uses your address only to see where you are located. You can include your full mailing address or only your City and State. However, we recommend that you avoid listing a P.O. box unless you are able to check it regularly.

You'll most likely be contacted by potential employers via email, so it's especially important to include an email address. Make sure to check your email messages regularly when searching for a position, as many employers now expect quick responses.

However, be sure to use a professional email address. An address like [email protected] may give an employer the wrong impression.

In today's digital age, professional or personal webpages are becoming more common. LinkedIn is a particularly popular site to exhibit your professional information. If you have a LinkedIn profile or another professional webpage, you may want to include your link in the contact information.

Open our Chronological Resume Template and save it to your computer as My Resume. Enter your own information into the document as you progress through each lesson in this unit.

This resume template is based on the chronological format. If you would prefer another format you can use another Microsoft Word resume template, or you can use an online search engine to find a template in the format you've chosen.

You will be working only in the contact information portion of this document for this activity. Please refer to the following picture:

After replacing the template text with your own information, be sure to remove the brackets.

/en/resumewriting/objectives-summaries-or-professional-profiles/content/

What shouldn't you include in your resume? Because resumes are typically only one to two pages long, your resume should contain only information related to the job for which you're applying. There is some information that should be included in every resume. There are also some things that don't need to be listed.

The hiring manager should be able to skim through your resume and see your qualifications without knowing everything about you. It often makes sense not to include information on your resume that could hinder your chances of getting an interview.

Here are some items that you should avoid including on your resume.

Do not label your resume with the word "resume." One look at your resume, and the employer should know what type of document it is. Also, don't use "resume" as the filename when you save the file. Use your name, so the hiring manager will know whose resume it is at a glance. For example, JaneDolanResume.docx or JaneDolanResume.pdf.

Some people make the mistake of dating their resumes. The employer does not need to know when you wrote your resume; the dates you include regarding past education and employment are the only dates you need to have.

The rule of thumb for what not to include is, “When in doubt, leave it out.”

Avoid saying what you did not do or have not yet accomplished; focus instead on what you have done or are in the process of achieving. For example, if you are still in college, do not say "not yet graduated," but instead list the year you will graduate. If you didn't graduate, list the dates you attended.

Instead of saying that you have "limited experience" in administrative work, provide examples of your previous experience.

You may hear that you should give an objective statement that states what you are seeking in a job. This is outdated advice: instead, write a career summary, profile or branding statement highlighting what you can offer the employer.

Do not include any personal information beyond your address, email, and phone number. Leave out your age, date of birth, race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, political affiliation, and the names and ages of your spouse and children. While some of this information may be required in an international CV, you should leave it out of a resume. The reason is that it's illegal for employers to making hiring decisions based on this information.

You should also leave out important numbers that could allow someone to steal your identity, such as your social security number, driver's license number, and any credit card information. You may wish to leave your address off your resume or only include part of it in some cases.

Your health is a personal issue, so there is no need to mention it on your resume. If you have health-related limitations they can be addressed during the hiring process.

If you get hired, the company will likely conduct a background check for a criminal record. However, there is no need to include this information on your resume. Also, there is no need to include personal pronouns as most employers will ask for your preferred pronouns.

While many companies outside of the United States require a photograph with each resume, those within the US do not. Most companies prefer you not to include a photo so they can safely adhere to the Equal Employment Opportunity legislation (which prohibits companies from making hiring decisions for discriminatory reasons).

Like a photograph, including your physical characteristics on a resume opens the door to possible accusations of discrimination against the company. Companies, therefore, prefer that you do not include any physical descriptors. The only exception might be applying for a modeling or acting job, where appearances inform hiring decisions.

Elementary school is never included on a resume. If you are still in high school, only have a high school diploma, or are in the first few years of college you can include your high school information. However, once you complete any other form of education, eliminate this information from your resume.

College students and recent graduates often include their GPA in their resume. However, if you are worried about a low GPA, simply leave it off your resume. You can still include your school, graduation date, and any awards received.

You don't need to list every job you have held on your resume. Generally, you only want to include positions you've had in the past 10 to 15 years unless an earlier job strongly demonstrates your qualifications. Leave out any positions that are unrelated to the job for which you are applying unless this will leave gaps on your resume.

However, if you have limited job experience, you can include slightly unrelated positions as long as you demonstrate how they prepared you for a job in your new field. For example, if you are applying for a sales job, you can include your earlier job as a cashier if you explain that the job helped you develop your customer service skills.

Make sure all the skills and attributes you list on your resume are current. If you list skills that are obsolete or not relevant to the position, it won't help you get an interview. Review this list of skills to exclude from your resume.

Because you will have a separate list of references, you do not need to include any contact information for your former supervisors on your resume. The only exception to this is creating a resume for a federal job, where this information is required.

Most companies do not want to see your hobbies on your resume. However, if you have a hobby that relates to the company, you may include it.

Your salary history is an issue you can discuss with the employer during an interview or once you have been offered the job if you are in a location where it is legal for the company to ask about your prior salary. You do not want to establish a salary range before you have even been offered an interview.

Generally, employers assume that a job applicant will have references. Instead of including the references on your resume or saying "references available upon request," you can send the hiring manager a separate sheet of references or wait until they ask for them.

This is an example of a resume that focuses on the qualifications and experience that make the applicant a strong candidate for the job. Download the resume template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online) or see below for more examples.

 @ The Balance 2020

Emily Employee
1234 Gold Rush Lane, Eureka, CA 95502 • 000-123-4567 •

Qualifications Summary

Customer Service-oriented professional dedicated to providing world-class casino experiences.

  • Six years’ experience in casino operations, including sales, cashiering and games management.
  • Frequent recipient of casino awards for exemplary customer service and cross-sales success.
  • Charismatic and proactive in identifying customer requirements and defusing potential issues.
  • Well-versed in complying with all local jurisdiction gaming laws and company policies.

Professional Experience

LUCKY STRIKE CASINO AND RESORT, Eureka, CA
Table Games Dealer, 10/2018-Present
Skillfully conduct casino table games including Blackjack, Poker, and Spanish 21, ensuring compliance with casino policies and procedures. Communicate with supervisor regarding player disputes; mediate and resolve issues in formative stages.

  •  Recognized by supervisors and peers for success in maintaining a dynamic, engaging, professional and courteous gaming environment for guests.
  • Educated guests regarding additional departmental and casino offerings and promotions.

RISING SUN CASINO AND RESORT, Las Vegas, NV
Cage Cashier, 07/2016-08/2018
Leveraged flawless cash-handling skills to redeem gaming checks, tokens and coins for resort guests. Meticulously tracked and reconciled cash drawer funds; transferred currency and coin to other cash-handling stations.

  • Conducted all cash-handling responsibilities with 100% accuracy and accountability.
  • Recognized by senior management with multiple customer service awards.

WINNER’S CASINO AND RESORT, Las Vegas, NV
Retail Shop Clerk, 06/2014-07/2016
Greeted and assisted casino guests in selecting and purchasing store merchandise. Accurately operated point-of-sale system to handle cash and credit transactions. Merchandised and restocked store displays.

  • Commended by supervisor for success in cross-selling casino services to customers.
  • Earned three “Employee of the Month” awards.

Education

Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Casino ManagementCOLLEGE OF SOUTHERN NEVADA (CSN)

NORTH LAS VEGAS CAMPUS, Las Vegas, CA

If you're having trouble writing a resume, there are myriad companies you can hire to help you write it.

Thanks for your feedback!