A resume is a brief writen account of peronal, educational and professional qualifications and experience, prepared by an applicant for a job.
While drafting one, many candidates need to remember what falls in the purview of educational and professional qualifications and experience. Do our religion, marital status or father's name matter? Does a candidate's gender make a difference to the work one is going to do?
Parents' names: Your dad and his connections may help you get a job but won't ensure your performance, once you have joined. The online form of General Electric has no column where you need to give your father's name. Your father's name is personal information, which will not have an impact on how you perform. The same goes for your mother's name.
Steven M Burt, a certified professional resume writer, says job applicants should focus on their achievements. Prove your worth by showing how you made positive contributions to the bottom line.
Age: The date of birth or age is not really part of the CV.
Landmark events will give your age away but you do not really need to mention them separately.
Marital status: Including your marital status can put you in a tricky situation. While single or married may be safe options to choose from, what would happen to those who are separated, divorced or widowed?
The options of relationships, given the way society operates now, are endless and has no bearing on your professional relationships. It can be done away with.
Religion: Amrita Rode, partner in recruitment firm Excelsearch, says that an interviewee will not know who will scan the resume. Mentioning religion will promote communal favouritism. The interviewer may or may not be broadminded. Hence, give the interview your best shot and then let the interviewer decide whether religion is important or a good suitable candidate.
References: She further reiterates that references should not be mentioned. If you give your current boss's reference or that of somebody senior to you, you are simply giving clues of your current organisation's structure. The interviewer will not call a reference provided by you, as you will surely be on good terms with that person.
Such people will obvisouly give a positive feedback on you and recommend you. So, leave references out.
Current salary: A word on the current salary drawn is not a good idea either. As Rode says the employer should call the candidate purely on the basis of his/her qualifications and experience. In any case, one does not know the employer's budget. The employer should not overestimate or underestimate you based on the package drawn. Let the interview take place, the interview may change his/her mind and budget as well.
Nationality: Meenakshi Jain, a consultant at Evolv Services, says nationality neither adds to your skills set, nor gives new information about you, unless you are applying for jobs abroad and might need to change cities.
The resume should ideally keep only the information that either adds to your skills or is relevant to the post you are applying for. Customising is the name of the game!
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