Pet Peeves… we all have them.
Some of my personal pet peeves include when couples include dogs in their engagement photos, when large groups insist a restaurant set them up with a Game of Thrones style table for 20, and when small children call me “Mr. Chad” – I’m not a clown or a pediatrician for Pete’s sake!
Recruiters are no different, and work-related pet peeves come in all shapes and sizes… from being ghosted during the hiring process to suddenly needing a higher salary once an offer is impending. But the resume, that enduring document of record we all live and die by, is rife with little foibles and superfluous ticks that can drive even the most seasoned recruiter mad!
So if you’re polishing up your own resume, it’s best to limit items that will turn a talent pro off. Here are five things that truly drive me crazy when I see them on a resume, even more than flip flops on airplanes and suits on sportscasters…
A Photo or Headshot
In most cases, a recruiter has either found you via LinkedIn or checked you out as soon as you applied, so there’s no need to include a photo of yourself on your resume. It will take up valuable real estate, and are 100% unneeded – save the glamour shots for #TBT.
College GPA
Most recruiters and hiring managers care much more about your work experience and business results than your overall track record at school. As long as you have a degree, save the numbers for YoY growth rates and financial results that highlight the success you’ve had at previous roles.
Your High School
Unless you’re applying for a job right after your freshman year of college, nobody cares where you went to high school. Use this space on your resume to list out another volunteer activity or advisory board seat, as the city your parents bought your childhood home in is just noise to a recruiter.
Salary Requirements
This is sensitive, job-specific information and should be closely guarded as long as possible – never just throw it out there. ‘Nuff said.
References Available Upon Request
This statement near the bottom of a resume is a relic from the past, and recruiters will ask should references be needed – no need to remind them. That said, always keep your references updated should you be asked… you don’t want to be caught scrambling.
All of those things may seem like minor infractions, and they are, but having more than one on your resume can really turn a recruiter off. And that goes for anything political or socially controversial, overusing graphics, tables, and charts, or listing irrelevant work experience.
Keep your resume laser-focused on your past experience, business results, and expert qualifications, and save all the extra stuff for future conversations – leave them wanting more!
