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People mean well when they write their résumés, but often they slip into old-fashioned terms, clichés, and words that are best avoided.

Exclude these:

• The meaningless objective
  “I’m goal-oriented person seeking a challenging job that will utilize my education and skills in working with people in a dynamic, growing company.”  Which means what, exactly?  If you are going to use an objective, customize it to the opportunity.  A meaningless objective just wastes important real estate at the top of your resume.
  
  
• Cuteness
  Eliminate any indication of cuteness. Your résumé is a professional document. Pictures, smiley faces, and graphics don’t belong here. If you’re an artist or designer, that’s what your portfolio is for.
  
  
• Lies
  My mother never lied about her age because she believed that anyone interested enough to try to find out, could, and being caught in a lie was much more embarrassing than revealing she was in her 50s. Employers can verify everything on your résumé, from education to work experience. Didn’t graduate from college? Have a gap in your work timeline? Deal with it honestly. Never, ever lie because it’ll cost you the job.

Avoid these:

• “I’m a people person.”
  Express your skills in a precise and measurable way. If you are, in fact, a people person, explain it quantitatively: excellent negotiation skills, strong leadership experience, mentor.
  
  
• “References available on request.”
  It’s assumed you have good references, so use this precious space for something better. If the employer wants to contact your references, he or she will ask. Don’t include a list of your references with your resume.  Wait until you are asked.
  
  Be very careful who you designate as a reference. I’ve gotten reference calls about people I’ve fired. Hello!
  
  Never use someone as a reference until you’ve asked specifically, “Are you 100% comfortable providing a reference for me? And if so, what will you say about me if called for a reference?” If there’s any doubt— even a wee little bit, leave that person out.
  
  
• “Single early 40s.”
  This is not a personal ad. Your age, marital status, family situation, religion, and sexual orientation have no place on your résumé. One exception: If your name is not common and/or if it doesn’t automatically convey your gender, feel free to include Ms. or Mr. in front of it as a courtesy to the reader.

Bottom Line

Resume faux pas can torpedo your chance with that employer, so respond quickly, but carefully, to opportunities.

© Copyright, 2010, Tory Johnson. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

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About This Author:

Tory Johnson is the CEO of Women For Hire and the author of Fired to Hired.  She’s also the workplace contributor on ABC’s Good Morning America. Talk to her directly at Twitter.com/ToryJohnson.