here’s endless advice about what belongs on your resume—skills to list, formats to follow, and keywords to help you beat the ATS. But knowing what NOT to include in a resume is just as important.
A resume isn’t your life story—it’s a targeted snapshot of your professional value. When you clutter it with unnecessary or outdated information, you make it harder for hiring managers to see what matters most.
And in today’s market, where your resume might be skimmed in under 10 seconds, small mistakes can cost you real opportunities.
Let’s walk through 9 things you should leave off your resume—and why.
1. Your Full Home Address
Listing your full street address used to be standard, but not anymore. Today, it’s unnecessary and potentially risky.
Why leave it off:
- It raises privacy concerns
- Employers only care about your general location (city/region)
- It can invite unconscious bias based on commute, neighborhood, or geography
What to do instead: Just include your city and state.
✅ Correct: Los Angeles, CA
❌ Incorrect: 123 Maple Street, Apt 4B, Los Angeles, CA 90001
2. An Unprofessional Email Address
Your email says a lot about you. If it’s outdated or unprofessional, it sends the wrong message.
Avoid: Addresses like partygirl88@hotmail.com or xX_CODSniper_Xx@yahoo.com
What to do instead: Use a clean, modern, professional email—ideally something like firstname.lastname@gmail.com.
And yes, skip the AOL, Hotmail, or Yahoo addresses if you can. They give the impression you’re stuck in the past.
3. Your Entire Job History
A resume is about relevance—not chronology. Listing every job you’ve ever had is a mistake.
Cut:
- Jobs from 15+ years ago that aren’t relevant
- Short stints that don’t add value
- Roles from completely unrelated fields (unless they prove transferable skills)
What to do instead: Focus on the last 10–15 years of experience that aligns with the role you’re targeting.
4. Your Graduation Year (in Some Cases)
If you’ve been in the workforce for 15+ years, listing your graduation year might unintentionally invite age discrimination.
Why it matters: Some hiring managers may make assumptions (consciously or not) about your adaptability or energy based on your age.
What to do instead: Just list the degree, not the year.
✅ B.A. in Psychology
❌ B.A. in Psychology, Class of 1998
5. “References Available Upon Request”
This phrase is a relic from the past. Hiring managers already assume you’ll provide references when asked.
What to do instead: Use that space for something more valuable—like achievements, metrics, or skills.
6. Personal Information
Including details like marital status, number of kids, or hobbies unrelated to the job doesn’t help—and can even raise legal concerns.
Avoid:
- Marital status
- Birthdate or age
- Religious or political affiliations
- Irrelevant hobbies (e.g., “watching Netflix”)
Exception: If a hobby directly supports your value for the role—such as open-source contributions for a dev job—it can be worth including.
7. A Headshot (Most of the Time)
In the U.S. and many other countries, headshots are unnecessary and can introduce bias into the hiring process.
Why to leave it off:
- Photos aren’t part of a resume’s core function
- Some ATS platforms reject resumes with photos
- Companies may avoid photos to reduce discrimination risk
Only include a photo if:
- You’re applying in countries where it’s expected (like parts of Europe or Asia)
- Your job is performance-based (modeling, acting, speaking)
8. Generic Soft Skills (Without Evidence)
Buzzwords like “team player” or “detail-oriented” don’t mean much without context.
What to do instead: Show, don’t tell.
✅ "Led a cross-functional team that delivered a new product 3 weeks ahead of schedule"
❌ "Strong leadership and time management skills"
Quantify where possible. Hiring managers want proof, not fluff.
9. A Resume That’s Too Long
The longer your resume, the more likely a recruiter is to skim—and miss your best stuff.
Keep it tight:
- 0–5 years experience → 1 page
- 5–15 years experience → 1–2 pages
- 15+ years → 2 pages max, unless C-level or academic
Cut old jobs, collapse early roles into a “Previous Experience” line if needed, and be ruthless about trimming filler.
Read more on: Does Your Resume Really Need to Be One Page?
Final Thoughts: Your Resume Isn’t Your Biography
It’s your marketing brochure—and every line should help sell your value to a specific employer.
So here’s your quick checklist of what NOT to include in a resume:
- ❌ Full home address
- ❌ Unprofessional or outdated email addresses
- ❌ Too much job history
- ❌ Your graduation year (if age is a concern)
- ❌ “References available upon request”
- ❌ Personal details like marital status, kids, or hobbies
- ❌ A headshot (unless required by region/industry)
- ❌ Generic soft skills without proof
- ❌ A resume that’s too long
When in doubt, ask yourself: Does this detail help me get hired?
If not? Cut it.