Expert Rolf Bax reveals six things you should never write on your resume including ‘white lies’

An employment expert has revealed the six things you should never put on your resume when applying for a job, including overuse of the term “I” and irrelevant information.

Rolf Bax, CMO of cv.io, has read thousands of resumes, both good and bad.

In an exclusive conversation with FEMAIL, he said cover letters are just as important as resumes, and you should always avoid badmouthing former employers.

“Your resume is the all-conquering asset to get the job you want. Make it, and you’ll be memorable for all the right reasons,” he said.

“Remember, the person reading your resume may be reading a lot of others. Keep your CV concise so that the important parts are not lost in a jumble of details and arrange your CV without long paragraphs for readability.

“While your cover letter is likely the first ‘conversation’ you have with a potential employer, your resume will determine whether that conversation progresses to an interview or ends in a dead end,” he said.

“You have to impress here.”

White lies

First, Rolf says to “never embellish or exaggerate your skills or your previous titles.”

‘Of course you want to put your best foot forward,’ says Rolf, ‘but stick to reality.

Embellishments tend to show and even if you get a lucky escape there, very few interviews lead to a job offer without someone doing homework on you.”

Clichéd or overused phrases or jargon

“It makes you sound robotic and suggests you’re not thinking creatively.

‘Keep your sentence structure simple and reduce details to important information only.

“Focus on skills and duties that make you a good candidate for the job, as well as previous positions that underline your suitability for the job or demonstrate your long experience,” Rolf advises.

Irrelevant personal information

A CV is a professional document. It doesn’t matter if you enjoy cooking unless you apply for a job in a kitchen.

‘Personal information is irrelevant, not even photos. Don’t put it in’.

Negative comments about employers or colleagues

“No one wants to work with someone who complains, criticizes or complains, so keep your information positive.

Spelling and grammatical errors

‘Yes, you will be judged’, Rolf warns.

“Use a spell and grammar checker and proofread your resume at least three times, preferably 24 hours after you write it, so you’re reading what’s on the page, not what’s in your head.

Saying ‘I did this, I did that’

‘Note that not every sentence starts with ‘I’, says Rolf.

And don’t focus on your own goals and achievements without mentioning how they align with the company’s needs.