What NOT to put on your Resume... Top 5!

August 29, 2009 

Summer internship season has come and gone but as the semester begins those college job fairs will be here before you know it!  If you want to land a great design internship next semester or design job after graduation you have to be prepared - here are 5 things that should NEVER go on your resume!

1. An unprofessional personal email address; examples: sweetiepie02@ yahoo.com or designfreak82@ hotmail.com.  While these email addresses are fine to give out to friends and family try something less creative for potential employers.  A simple first name [dot] last name will do!
2. A "generic" objective statement; example: "My objective is to use the principles that I have learned in school to work at a design firm."  Always take time to personalize this statement to the company you're sending it to.  It's at the top of your resume for crying out loud!  So be sure to grab their attention by briefly letting them know what you can do for them and how you can contribute to their company!
3. Avoid listing unrelated work experience; example: The giant mouse at Chuck-E-Cheese.  It's okay if your new to the field and do not have much professional experience to include on your resume.  Try listing volunteer opportunities that you may have taken part in, design competitions that you have participated in, or group projects that you have work on in school and the role you played in those projects.
4. Never list computer programs or software you don't know how to use.  Okay, so you used Adobe Flash once or twice but are you really proficient in using that program?  If not, don't list it!  Never lie to potential employers about your technical capabilities.  
5. Don't list your references on your resume; and NEVER state "references available upon request"!  You should always get permission from a reference prior to giving out their information.  If a potential employer asks for references they should be listed in a separate document most people prefer to list references in their curriculum vitae, which is a lot more detailed than a resume.  

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