Though many people view resumes as a highly professional document, others are more interested in showing their individuality to have a resume that stands out from the crowd. Expressing your personality in the form of bad jokes and personal interests is often best left for interviews, whereas resumes should be kept professional. Review these seven funny resume mistakes (and how to avoid them) to ensure your resume will be taken seriously by hiring managers.
Interesting & Ironic Spelling Mistakes
Accidentally spelling annual as anal, saying your ruining a company instead of running it, or showing that you’re not as ‘detail-ointed’ as you might think are all common resume mistakes. Make sure to proofread your resume closely every time you send it out.
Including a List of Hobbies
Though kayaking, BBQing, karaoke, and hiking are all good hobbies to have, they aren’t relevant to include on a resume. Hiring managers often like to see candidates with passion, so these activities could be brought up in an interview, but leave a “hobbies” section off the resume.
Having an Unprofessional Contact Email
You could have a great resume that clearly explains your relevant skills and career achievements, but the hiring manager might think twice when responding at “funkymonkey93@hotmail.com”, so create a professional email to use on your resume, but don’t use your work email.
Too Much Honesty
“I’m applying for this position because I need to pay my bills and make ends meet” is not a good reason for a company to hire you. Almost every job candidate needs to make a living in a position, but a hiring manager wants to know why you would be a good fit for the position and your interest in the company. Create a summary highlighting your skillset as it aligns to the position you’re applying to.
Bad Jokes or Puns
“I’m a muffler mechanic, it’s exhausting work!” or “Utilized emerging medical device technologies—like Fitbit—to assist in monitoring 12-step programs.” While these show personality, it’s not what a hiring manager is looking for in a resume. Keep the resume content professional, focusing on qualifications over inside jokes.
Resume Pictures and Snapchat Filters
Including a picture of yourself on a resume already isn’t a good idea, but including one with a Snapchat filter is even worse. Leave pictures, symbols, and logos off of resumes.
Being Too Personal
There are some things your employers just don’t need to know about your life throughout your entire employment, so probably best not to include those things on a resume, no matter how much of an open book you are.