by Donna Cardillo, RN, BS
a well known career guru

When it comes to your resume, some things are best left unsaid. A resume that's filled with outdated, unnecessary, and routine information can appear cluttered and cause the reader to lose interest. It can make you look less than professional and drown your accomplishments in a sea of irrelevant data. You'll help prospective employers focus on what's important if you avoid the following:

Personal Stuff. Don't list your height, weight, or health status. While this may be customary in Europe, it's not acceptable in this country. Don't refer to your age or marital status. This is protected information under current employment laws. Don't list personal activities like sewing, reading and skiing. While some readers may say it gives them insight into your personality, most recruiters consider it too folksy.

School Stats. Don't list where and when you went to high school. It's irrelevant. Don't list your GPA unless it was a 4.0 and even if that's true, only list it during your first year out of school. After that, it is no longer current information. After you've been out of school for about a year, school-related activities and awards are no longer germane. Your work experience is what counts now.

Work Generalities. Don't list routine duties. This is understood. And don't clog up your resume with a laundry list of continuing education classes. List a few current and important ones or you could write "Continuing Ed credits available upon request."

Basic Tenets. Don't list an objective that emphasizes what you're seeking from the position. Rather when an objective is used it should stress what you bring to the position. You can always state your interest and preference in a

customized cover letter. Don't list references on your resume. If interviewers want references, they'll ask for them. You'll provide then on a separate sheet of paper. Don't list every presentation you've made or everything you've ever published. Rather use categories entitled "Selected Presentations" and "Selected Publications" and list a few of the more important and current ones.

Dollar Don'ts. Don't include your salary history on your resume. If responding to an ad that says "Will only consider resumes with salary history," make a general statement about your salary history in the cover letter like, "Over the last 10 years I've made a progressively increasing salary. I'm currently in the mid-whatever range, plus benefits, options, etc. Likewise, don't state your salary expectations on your resume. If pressed to do so, make a statement in the cover letter such as "My salary requirement for this position is negotiable. At this time I'm interested in learning whether the job is right for me and whether I'm fit for the job."

Benefits. Heeding these recommendations will accomplish several things. You will pare down your resume to a manageable size, usually no more than one or two pages. Irrelevant, outdated information will be eliminated so that your resume sounds more current. The reader will get a concentrated glimpse of the significant things about your background and credentials. Any your resume will meet contemporary resume writing standards.

Make your resume a clutter-free zone and you'll be left with a polished, professional document that focuses on your major accomplishments, experiences and skills. It's guaranteed to make for a more interesting read.