We answered some of the most commonly asked questions about what should and shouldn’t be added to your resume. Have more questions about what goes on your resume? Ask us on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter.
Should I include all of my jobs on my resume?
No. A resume is designed to market just how well you fit the role; it’s not a career biography. If it doesn’t leave too big of a resume gap, avoid listing jobs with work experience irrelevant to the new job, positions that lasted less than three months (besides contract or seasonal work), and anything from over 15 years ago.
Learn more about when to leave a job off of a resume.
Should I include a picture or headshot on my resume?
No. Some recruiters automatically disqualify a candidate just for having a picture of themselves on their resume because it can open the door for claims of discrimination and hiring bias.
Should I include references on my resume?
No. Including references or phrases like “references available upon request” is an outdated practice. Hiring managers won’t ask for references until the interview stages of the hiring process. It’s assumed that you will have references available at that point.
Should I include WPM on my resume?
Yes, but only if fast, accurate typing skills are important to the job for which you’re applying. The most important thing to remember when adding skills to your resume, like typing speed, is making sure that they align with the job description. Otherwise, they don’t help you stand out to hiring professionals or get past applicant tracking systems (ATS).
Learn which skills are actually important with Jobscan’s resume optimization tool.
Should I include a skills section on my resume?
Yes. A skills section is one of the most important things to include when writing your resume. Many companies use ATS to search for qualified candidates. Recruiters or hiring managers will use hard skills as keywords to perform this search, so optimizing your skills to match the description of the job you’re applying for has a massive impact on your ability to get your resume past the ATS and in front of human eyes.
Learn more about how to write a resume skills section.
Should I include my street address on my resume?
No. Your street address isn’t necessary on a modern resume. You should still include your city, state, and zip code, as recruiters are able to search by these criteria with some ATS. Without this information, your resume could be passed over.
Learn more about how applicant tracking systems work.
Should I include my LinkedIn on my resume?
Yes. A recruiter or hiring manager is going to look up your LinkedIn profile anyway, so make it easy for them by putting your LinkedIn URL with your contact information. LinkedIn is also the place where you can expand on your experience, detail your accomplishments, and show off other material that doesn’t fit on a resume.
Learn more about how to make sure recruiters can find you on LinkedIn.
Should I include my Github profile on my resume?
Yes, if it’s relevant to the job you’re applying for and your profile is active. Github is very similar to LinkedIn for technical roles – many recruiters or hiring professionals are going to look it up anyway. Include the URL to your profile with your contact information.
Should I include volunteer work on my resume?
Yes. Many recruiters and hiring managers look favorably on volunteer experience. Focus on including volunteer work with applicable or transferable skills and measurable results as they can provide extra keyword optimization for ATS. Including relevant volunteer experience can be especially helpful for recent grads, those with employment gaps, or applicants who are changing careers.
Keep the hiring company in mind when deciding which volunteer work to include. Some causes, especially those political or religious in nature, could be divisive and hurt more than they help. Research company values or the hiring manager to get a better idea of what to include.
Learn more about how to include volunteer work on your resume.
Should I include my hobbies on my resume?
No, unless the skills required for your hobby are relevant to the job being applied to, such how leadership would be required from a hobbyist soccer coach and a team lead in a call center. Most of the time the only job seekers who include hobbies on their resumes are recent grads and entry-level candidates who don’t have much, if any, job experience.
Learn more about resume sections.
Should I include my college GPA on my resume?
No, unless you’ve graduated from college within the last 2-3 years and your GPA is 3.5 or higher. Include your major GPA or your cumulative GPA, whichever is higher. Be sure to denote which GPA you’re including, as employers can reference your transcripts.
Work experience and measurable results are more important than GPA to many companies, so internships, volunteer experience, and work-study programs carry more value to most employers than grades do. If you had a very high GPA (3.8 or higher) in an elite program or at a prestigious school, it’s worth keeping on your resume until you need more space for experience or skills.
Learn more about what to include in your resume education section.
Should I include high school education on my resume?
No, unless you’re currently in high school or college. Younger applicants who haven’t completed their degree should list their high school, years of attendance, and 1-3 major achievements. If you do have a college degree, list that instead of your high school education.
Learn more about when to exclude education from your resume.
Should I include a failed business or startup on my resume?
Yes. Structure a failure on your resume by focusing on the accomplishments you did have, such as “grew customer base 5% over 3 months” or “trained 5 employees in JavaScript.” When asked about the failure, don’t be afraid to talk about it – you can turn a negative experience into a positive one by talking about what you accomplished there and what you learned to move forward.
Learn more about how to format failed business ventures on your resume.