Writing a resume can be a stressful task. You want to make sure you present yourself in the best possible light and showcase your skills and experience. However, it’s important to know what not to include on your resume as well. Some jobs or experiences may not be relevant or impressive to potential employers and may even hurt your chances of getting hired. In this article, we will explore the jobs and experiences you should avoid including on your resume.
Irrelevant Work Experience
When creating a resume, it’s important to remember that it should be tailored to the job you’re applying for. This means that including every job you’ve ever had may not be the best idea, particularly if the jobs aren’t related to the position you’re seeking. Here are some examples of jobs that shouldn’t be included:
1. High School Jobs
Your job at the local fast-food restaurant or movie theater may have been a great way to earn some extra cash during high school, but it’s unlikely that it will impress a potential employer. Unless you’re a recent graduate with little work experience, there’s no need to include these types of jobs on your resume.
2. Unrelated Part-Time Jobs
If you worked part-time as a receptionist while attending college, but your current job is in marketing, it’s best to leave the receptionist job off your resume. While it may show that you were able to juggle school and work, it’s not relevant to your current field and may take up valuable space on your resume.
3. Short-Term Positions
If you held a job for less than six months and it’s unrelated to your current field, it’s best to leave it off your resume. Employers are looking for candidates with stable work histories, and job hopping can be a red flag that you’re not committed to your career.
4. Jobs with a Negative Connotation
If you worked at a job that has a negative connotation, such as a telemarketer or door-to-door salesman, it’s best to leave it off your resume. While you may have gained valuable skills from these jobs, the negative associations may hurt your chances of getting hired.
5. Volunteer Work That Isn’t Relevant
If you’ve done volunteer work that’s unrelated to the position you’re applying for, it’s best to leave it off your resume. While volunteering is a great thing to do, including it on your resume may make it seem like you’re trying too hard to impress the employer. Only include volunteer work that’s relevant to the position you’re seeking.
Overall, when creating a resume, it’s important to remember that less is often more. Only include jobs that are relevant to the position you’re seeking, and that will showcase the skills and experience you have that make you the best candidate for the job.
Short-Term Jobs
Listing short-term jobs on your resume is a tricky situation. A short-term job is often considered to be one that lasts less than six months. These types of jobs are often filled seasonally or temporarily, and can be incredibly diverse. However, they can also be seen as a weakness in your work history, and could potentially harm your chances of landing the job you want. While you should always be honest on your resume, here are a few short-term jobs that you might want to think twice about including:
Seasonal or Temporary Jobs
Seasonal or temporary jobs, such as retail sales during the holiday season or working at a summer camp, may be seen as irrelevant to your current career aspirations. While these jobs can show that you are a hard worker and have the ability to adapt to new environments, they may not demonstrate your long-term commitment to a particular industry. If you do include these types of jobs on your resume, make sure to highlight any relevant skills or experience that you gained while working in those positions. For example, if you worked in retail, you could highlight your customer service abilities or your ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment.
Freelance or Contract Work
Freelance or contract work can be a great way to gain experience and build your portfolio in a particular field. However, listing too many short-term freelance or contract projects on your resume may suggest that you have trouble finding long-term work or that you are unsure of your career path. Instead of listing every short-term project, focus on the ones that are most relevant to the job you are applying for. Highlight any skills or accomplishments that demonstrate your ability to work independently and manage multiple projects at once.
Part-Time or Internship Positions
Part-time jobs or internships can be a great way to gain experience and build your skills while you are still in school or transitioning into a new career. However, if you are applying for a full-time job that requires a certain level of experience, listing internships or part-time jobs may not be the best idea. Instead, focus on highlighting any relevant skills or experience that you gained while working in those positions. For example, if you worked as a part-time receptionist, you could highlight your ability to multitask and manage a busy office environment.
Jobs That Are Completely Unrelated to Your Desired Career Path
If you have worked in a completely unrelated field and are now looking to transition into a new career, listing these jobs on your resume may not be the best idea. While you should always be honest about your work history, focus on highlighting any transferable skills or experience that you gained while working in those positions. For example, if you worked as a bartender but are now looking to transition into a customer service position, you could highlight your ability to communicate effectively with a variety of customers and your problem-solving abilities in a fast-paced environment.
In summary, short-term jobs can be a valuable addition to your resume if they are relevant to the job you are applying for and demonstrate your skills and experience. However, it is important to consider how these jobs might be perceived by potential employers and to focus on highlighting your strengths and transferable skills.
Negative Work Experience
When preparing a resume, it’s essential to ensure that you present yourself in the best possible light to potential employers. You’ll want to put forth your best accomplishments, and any experience you have that is relevant to the job for which you are applying. However, there are certain types of work experience that you may want to avoid putting on your resume. These experiences may send up red flags to potential employers or detract from your qualifications. Here are a few examples:
1. Jobs You Were Fired From
If you were fired from one or more jobs in the past, it may be tempting to leave those positions off your resume entirely. However, in some cases, employment gaps can be just as concerning to employers as negative work experience. If you do choose to include a job you were fired from, you’ll need to find a way to frame the situation in a positive light. For example, you could briefly explain why you were let go and what you learned as a result. However, it’s usually best to emphasize the positive aspects of your previous work experience instead.
2. Jobs With Very Short Durations
If you worked a job for just a few weeks or months, it may be worth considering whether or not to include it on your resume. While short-term jobs can be beneficial for gaining experience in a new industry or field, they may not be as impressive to potential employers as longer-term positions. If you do include a short-term job on your resume, be prepared to explain why it was only a brief stint and what you learned during that time. However, if the job was entirely unrelated to your current field or industry, it may be best to leave it off your resume altogether.
3. Jobs With Negative Associations
In some cases, a job you held in the past may have negative associations that could detract from your qualifications. For example, if you worked for a company that has since been embroiled in scandal or controversy, it may not be in your best interest to include that job on your resume. Similarly, if you worked for a company that is known for poor working conditions or employee mistreatment, you may want to leave that job off your resume to avoid any negative associations.
Another example of a job with negative associations is one that is viewed as highly controversial or divisive. For instance, if you worked for a political party or lobbying group whose views are not shared by the majority of the population, including that job on your resume could be polarizing and could lead potential employers to view you as a controversial figure.
If you do have negative work experience on your resume, it’s essential to be upfront about it in your job interview. Employers will ultimately respect honesty and transparency, even if they don’t agree with the decisions you made in the past. However, you should also be prepared to explain why that job is not representative of your overall work ethic or abilities, and why it shouldn’t detract from your overall qualifications for the job you’re seeking.
In conclusion, when preparing a resume, it’s essential to think carefully about which work experiences to include. Negative work experience can send up red flags to potential employers or detract from your qualifications, so it’s usually best to emphasize your positive achievements and relevant experience instead. However, if you do have negative work experience on your resume, it’s important to be honest and transparent about it, and to explain in a job interview why it doesn’t detract from your overall qualifications.
Personal Information
When crafting a resume, it is important to know what information to include and what information to leave out. Personal information is one category that should be approached with caution. Here are some jobs that may require personal information that should not be included on a resume.
1. Modeling
Models are often required to share their physical measurements, including height, weight, and clothing size. While this information is necessary for the job, it does not belong on a resume for privacy reasons. Additionally, many modeling agencies require candidates to submit headshots or full body photos along with their application, but including these images on a resume can lead to discrimination based on appearance.
2. Security Clearance
Jobs that require a security clearance, such as government positions or certain roles in the military and intelligence fields, may require candidates to disclose personal information such as their social security number, birthplace, and other sensitive details. However, including this information on a resume can put the candidate at risk for identity theft or compromise their security clearance.
3. Acting
Similar to modeling, acting jobs may require candidates to share their physical appearance, including their age, hair and eye color, and ethnicity. However, this information can lead to discrimination and should not be included on a resume. Additionally, many acting agencies require candidates to submit headshots or demo reels, but these should be submitted separately from a resume.
4. Medical Field
Jobs in the medical field, such as nursing or healthcare administration, may require candidates to provide personal information such as their medical history, vaccinations, and drug screenings. While this information is necessary for the job, it should not be included on a resume for privacy reasons. Candidates should only provide this information if requested during the hiring process and should confirm that the job is legitimate before submitting sensitive information.
Candidates should always be cautious about the information they share on a resume and only include what is relevant to their qualifications for the job. Personal information can put candidates at risk for discrimination, identity theft, or compromise their security clearance. By carefully considering what information to include, candidates can create a strong and secure resume that showcases their skills and experience.
Low-Level Jobs (from early in your career)
When writing a resume, it is important to highlight your best qualities and most relevant experiences. However, there are certain jobs that should not be included in your resume, especially if you are applying for a more advanced or professional position. Here are five low-level jobs from early in your career that you should avoid listing on your resume:
1. Babysitting or Pet Sitting
While these jobs are great for teenagers or those just entering the workforce, they do not hold much weight when it comes to professional experience. Babysitting and pet sitting require basic skills such as responsibility and reliability, but they do not showcase any skills or experience that would be useful in a professional job. If you are looking for a job that requires more advanced skills and experience, it is best to leave these jobs off your resume.
2. Retail and Food Service Jobs
Working in retail or food service can provide valuable customer service experience, but they may not demonstrate the skills necessary for more advanced positions. Including these types of jobs on your resume may give the impression that you lack experience in your field. If you are applying for a professional job, it is best to highlight any relevant experience or skills that showcase your ability to excel in the position you are applying for.
3. Internships
While internships can be a great way to gain experience in your field, they are often considered temporary and may not hold the same weight as a full-time position. Additionally, internships may not demonstrate the breadth of experience and skills necessary for more advanced positions. Instead of listing every internship you have had, focus on the skills and experience you gained while working there, and how those skills and experiences can be applied in the position you are applying for.
4. Part-Time or Temporary Jobs
Part-time or temporary jobs can be useful in helping you gain experience and pay your bills, but they may not hold much weight when it comes to professional experience. If you are applying for a professional job, it is best to focus on experiences that directly relate to the position you are applying for. Instead of listing every temporary or part-time job you have had, focus on the experiences you gained and how they are relevant to the job you are applying for.
5. High School Activities
While high school activities such as clubs and sports can demonstrate leadership and teamwork skills, they may not be useful to list on a professional resume. As you gain more work experience, it is important to focus on experiences that directly relate to the position you are applying for. If you have relevant experiences from high school, focus on the skills and experiences you gained, and how they can be applied in a professional setting.
Ultimately, when writing a resume, it is important to consider the relevance and quality of the experiences you are highlighting. While all experiences can be valuable, it is important to focus on those that directly relate to the job you are applying for, and demonstrate the skills and experiences that make you the best candidate for the position.
