Dumbest Things to Put on a Resume (and What to Do Instead)
A resume is your first impression on a potential employer, and making mistakes can cost you an interview. While some errors are minor, others can make you look unprofessional, unqualified, or even out of touch. To help you craft the perfect resume, here’s a comprehensive list of the dumbest things people put on resumes—and why you should avoid them. We’ll also provide tips on what to include instead to boost your chances of landing a great job.
Dumbest Things to Put on a Resume
1. Unprofessional Email Addresses
Your email address should reflect professionalism. Using an email like “partyking99@email.com” or “cutiepie24@email.com” makes you look unprofessional and can hurt your chances of being taken seriously.
What to Do Instead: Use a simple email format with your first and last name (e.g., “john.doe@email.com“). If your name is common, consider adding numbers or initials in a professional way.
2. Irrelevant Hobbies and Interests
While it might be tempting to showcase your unique personality, listing hobbies like “Netflix binge-watching champion” or “expert in cat memes” won’t impress employers and may take up valuable space.
What to Do Instead: Only include hobbies that relate to the job or demonstrate relevant skills, such as “coding side projects” for a tech role or “volunteering in community events” for a social work position.
3. Too Much Personal Information
Employers do not need to know your age, marital status, religion, or social security number. Including these details can even lead to discrimination concerns.
What to Do Instead: Focus on your qualifications, skills, and experiences that make you a strong candidate.
4. Overly Creative Job Titles
Calling yourself a “Marketing Ninja” or “Sales Rockstar” might seem fun, but it can come off as unprofessional. Many Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) won’t recognize non-standard job titles either.
What to Do Instead: Stick to standard job titles that hiring managers and ATS software will recognize, like “Marketing Manager” or “Sales Representative.”
5. Including Your Photo (Unless Required)
Unless you’re applying for an acting or modeling job, including a photo is unnecessary and may lead to bias in hiring decisions.
What to Do Instead: Let your skills and experience speak for themselves rather than relying on visuals.
6. Fake or Exaggerated Skills
Claiming fluency in a language you barely know or saying you’re an “Excel wizard” when you struggle with spreadsheets will backfire if you’re tested on those skills during an interview.
What to Do Instead: Be honest about your abilities. If you’re still learning a skill, indicate your proficiency level (e.g., “Intermediate Spanish”).
7. Listing High School Education (If You Have a Degree)
If you’ve already graduated from college, your high school education is irrelevant.
What to Do Instead: Focus on your most recent and highest level of education.
8. Generic Objective Statements
“Looking for a challenging position in a dynamic company where I can grow” is vague and meaningless.
What to Do Instead: Use a strong professional summary that highlights your key skills and accomplishments.
9. Every Single Job You’ve Ever Had
Employers don’t need to know about your summer job scooping ice cream 15 years ago—unless it’s relevant to your career path.
What to Do Instead: List only recent and relevant job experiences that showcase your qualifications.
10. Negative Comments About Past Employers
Complaining about a previous job or boss makes you look unprofessional and difficult to work with.
What to Do Instead: Keep it positive and focus on what you learned from past experiences.
11. Weird or Outdated Fonts
Using Comic Sans or a decorative script font makes your resume look unprofessional and hard to read.
What to Do Instead: Stick to clean, modern fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.
12. Too Many Buzzwords and Clichés
Phrases like “hardworking team player,” “results-driven professional,” and “detail-oriented” are overused and don’t add value.
What to Do Instead: Provide concrete examples of your accomplishments, such as “Led a team of 10 to increase sales by 30% in six months.”
13. “References Available Upon Request”
It’s understood that you’ll provide references if asked. This phrase takes up unnecessary space.
What to Do Instead: Use that space to highlight key skills or achievements.
14. Your Salary Expectations
Discuss salary expectations during the interview process, not on your resume. Putting a number too high or too low can hurt your chances.
What to Do Instead: Save salary discussions for later in the hiring process.
15. Personal Social Media Accounts (Unless Relevant)
Unless your social media is directly related to the job (e.g., a professional LinkedIn profile or a portfolio site), don’t list your Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok.
What to Do Instead: Include only professional links, such as LinkedIn or a personal website showcasing your work.
Conclusion
A well-crafted resume can make or break your job search. By avoiding these common mistakes, you’ll create a professional, polished resume that highlights your skills and experiences in the best possible way. Keep your resume focused, relevant, and ATS-friendly to maximize your chances of landing an interview and securing your dream job.
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