Resume Dos and Don’ts

When it comes to resumes, small choices can make a big impact. Here’s a quick list of do’s and don’ts to keep your resume polished, professional, and ready to impress.

✅ Do: Include an objective statement

You don’t need a full paragraph—just a sentence or two that clearly communicates your skills, experience, and career goals. While some say the objective statement is outdated, it can be especially helpful if you’re new to the workforce, pivoting industries, or making a career change. It helps hiring managers make sense of any parts of your resume that might not obviously align with the role.

❌ Don’t: Include your home address

Not even the city and state. Why? Your location should have no bearing on your candidacy—and unfortunately, including an address can open the door to bias or scams. Some fake job listings even use this info to sell or misuse your personal details. Keep it off.

✅ Do: Use a touch of color

Sounds minor, but when recruiters are skimming through dozens of resumes, they start to blend together. A subtle pop of color (think accent headings or borders) can help yours stand out. Will it land you the job? No—but it’s a nice touch that gets noticed.

❌ Don’t: Include a photo

Unless you’re applying for a modeling or acting gig that specifically asks for one, leave the headshot off. Like your address, a photo can invite bias—or attract scammers. Your skills should speak for themselves.

✅ Do: Highlight awards and recognition

Shout yourself out—just be ready to talk about it. If the award is specific to a past organization, be prepared to explain its significance. Employers love to see evidence of impact.

❌ Don’t: List hobbies

Unless your hobby directly supports the role (like coding for a dev job or writing for a content role), skip it. Your resume is prime real estate—save it for relevant skills and experience.

This concludes Part One of Resume Dos and Don’ts.
If you found this helpful, like, share, and drop a comment letting us know you want Part 2!

Should You Include a LinkedIn Link on Your Resume?

There was a time when people thought LinkedIn would replace resumes—but the traditional resume isn’t going anywhere. What has changed is that more people are now including a hyperlink to their LinkedIn profile on their resume.

Is this a good idea? Yes… and no.

Here are a few things to consider before adding your LinkedIn profile to your resume:

Are you active?

Just having a LinkedIn account isn’t enough. If your profile is outdated or inactive, there’s no point in sharing the link. A lifeless profile can reflect poorly on you.

Is your profile up to date?

You might have job experience listed on LinkedIn that’s missing from your resume—or vice versa. Maybe you’ve still got an old objective statement that no longer aligns with your current career goals. Make sure your profile tells a clear, consistent story.

Who are you connected to?

Your network reflects you. Fair or not, people do judge based on who you’re connected with and what those people post or engage with. Be selective.

Do you have mutual connections?

If you and the hiring manager share connections, be prepared: they might reach out to those people to ask about your professional reputation. Make sure your network would speak positively about you if asked.

What have you liked?

It’s not always your comments or connections that raise eyebrows—it could be the content you engage with. Are you liking politically charged posts? Hearting toxic rants or unprofessional call-outs? Be cautious. Your digital footprint matters.

Do you link to other social media accounts?

Sometimes people list other platforms on their LinkedIn profiles, unintentionally guiding hiring managers to personal content that might not align with their professional image. Check your profile for any links that lead down that path.

The Bottom Line

If you’re going to include your LinkedIn link on your resume, keep your profile clean, current, and professional. Be mindful of who you’re connected to and what you engage with. If, after reading this, you’re second-guessing your profile, it might be best to leave the link off—for now.