MistakesJun 9, 2025·4 min read
What to leave off your resume
Photos, age, full address and a dozen other habits add risk without adding value. Cut them.
Personal details
In most Western markets, leave off your photo, age, date of birth, and marital status. They invite bias and add nothing to your candidacy. Norms differ by region — follow local convention.
Your full address
A city and region is plenty; a full street address is a privacy risk with no upside. Recruiters only need to know you're in range.
Ancient and irrelevant history
A 20-year-old first job or unrelated roles dilute the page. Keep what maps to this job; cut what doesn't.
Filler sections
'References available', an objective that says nothing, a hobbies list with no relevance. If a line could sit on anyone's resume, it isn't earning its place.