In short
The problem: Kiwi jobseekers weaken their applications by including unnecessary, outdated or distracting information that takes attention away from their strengths.
The solution: This guide explains the top resume mistakes to avoid, helping candidates remove irrelevant content and keep their resume clear, focused and professionally targeted.
The outcome: By leaving out what does not add value, jobseekers can create a stronger resume that is easier for employers to scan and more likely to lead to an interview.
Things to avoid in a resume:
For New Zealand jobseekers, knowing what not to include on a resume can be just as important as knowing what to put in. In fact, avoiding the top resume mistakes can make the difference between a resume that feels clear and professional, and one that gets overlooked.
A strong resume is not about including every detail of your background. It is about presenting the most relevant, credible and professional version of your experience so employers can quickly see your value. Understanding the top resume mistakes can help you remove anything that distracts from that goal.
Samir Sheth, Division Director at Robert Half New Zealand has been in recruitment just shy of a decade and has been helping candidates with their resumes for that time. He explains, “One of the most common mistakes jobseekers make is treating their resume like a full life story. The strongest resumes are selective. They focus on what matters most to the employer and leave out anything that does not support the application.”
Why getting this right matters
Employers often review resumes quickly. If your document is cluttered with irrelevant details, weak phrases or information that does not help your case, it can dilute the impact of your strongest experience. Many of the top resume mistakes come down to including too much, rather than focusing on what matters most.
That is why understanding what not to include on a resume can help you create a sharper, more effective application and improve your chances of getting shortlisted.
Related: What to put on a CV
Personal details that are not relevant
One of the top resume mistakes is including personal information that is not needed. In New Zealand, you generally do not need to include your:
street address
race
nationality
marital status
children
religion
political views
date of birth
gender
photo
Unless an employer has specifically requested certain details, these are unnecessary and can distract from your skills and experience. Your resume should focus on your professional suitability for the role, not personal background information.
Samir puts it simply: “If a detail does not help an employer understand your fit for the job, it probably does not need to be on your resume.”
Clichés and empty buzzwords
Using tired phrases is another of the top resume mistakes jobseekers make. Terms like dynamic individual, team player, great communicator and out-of-the-box thinker are overused and often do little to strengthen your application.
Instead of relying on clichés, show your strengths through specific examples and achievements. For example, rather than saying you are a great communicator, show how you managed stakeholder relationships, led client meetings or improved collaboration across a team.
References
You do not need to include full referee details on your resume. In most cases, it is better to leave them off and simply write Referees available on request if needed.
This can work in your favour. It gives you a clearer sense of how far you have progressed in the hiring process, because employers often check references later on. It also gives you time to contact your referee and let them know to expect a call.
Leaving referee details on your resume too early can be one of those quieter top resume mistakes that takes up valuable space without adding much value.
References
Listing standard computer skills like Microsoft Word, Excel or PowerPoint can sometimes make your resume feel dated or entry-level, especially if the role is not junior. In most workplaces, basic digital literacy is assumed.
That said, there is an exception. If the role requires advanced Excel, specific accounting software, CRM systems or specialist platforms, those should absolutely be included. The key is to focus on software or systems that are genuinely relevant and help support your application.
Related: Top skills to put on your resume
Salary details
Do not include your current salary or salary expectations on your resume. In New Zealand, this information is not expected at application stage and is usually better discussed later in the process.
Including salary details too early is one of the top resume mistakes because it can weaken your negotiating position and distract from the value you bring.
Samir says, “Your resume should open doors, not lock you into a number too early. Salary is a conversation for the right stage of the process, not something to lead with on the page.”
Irrelevant or outdated experience
When thinking about what not to include on a resume, a common mistake is listing every job you have ever had, no matter how old or unrelated it is. This is one of the top resume mistakes because it can make your resume longer, less focused and harder to scan.
For many Kiwi jobseekers, the focus should be on the most recent and relevant experience. Older roles can still be included if they help tell the story of your career or support your suitability for the position, but they do not need the same level of detail.
Long paragraphs and too much detail
Dense blocks of text can make even strong experience hard to read. Your resume should be easy to scan, with clear headings and concise bullet points.
Avoid:
long summaries
overly detailed job descriptions
paragraphs that bury key achievements
This is one of the top resume mistakes because even good content can lose impact if it is difficult to read quickly.
Negative comments about previous employers
Your resume is not the place to explain difficult past experiences, workplace conflict or negative reasons for leaving a role. Even if your circumstances were challenging, your resume should stay forward-looking and professional.
Employers are looking for confidence, judgement and professionalism, and negative language can quickly shift attention away from your strengths. If your resume includes criticism of a past manager, workplace or company, it can raise concerns about how you handle challenges and whether you would bring that same tone into a new role.
If there is a valid reason for leaving, such as redundancy, restructuring or the end of a contract, it is better to keep the wording brief, factual and neutral. The focus should stay on your experience, achievements and readiness for the next opportunity, not on the problems of the last one.
Unprofessional email addresses
This may seem small, but it matters. An outdated or overly casual email address can create the wrong impression immediately. Your contact details should feel polished and professional.
It may sound minor, but this is still one of the top resume mistakes because first impressions start before an employer reads your work history.
A generic resume objective
A generic resume objective can make your CV feel dated because it tends to focus on what you want, rather than what you can offer. Statements like “seeking a challenging role in a growing organisation” are common, but they do not tell an employer much about your experience, strengths or why you are a good fit for the position.
From a hiring manager’s perspective, vague objectives often take up valuable space without adding real value. They can sound broad, interchangeable and disconnected from the specific role, which makes it harder for your CV to stand out. Employers are usually more interested in how your background aligns with their needs than in a general statement about your career ambitions.
A stronger alternative is a professional summary. This gives you the chance to quickly highlight your experience, key strengths and the value you could bring to the organisation. Instead of focusing only on what you want next, it shows the employer why you are worth considering.
The difference is subtle but important. A generic objective talks about your goals. A professional summary connects your skills and experience to the employer’s needs, which makes your CV feel more relevant, more strategic and more persuasive.
Inaccurate or exaggerated information
This should go without saying, but it is critical. Never exaggerate job titles, qualifications, dates or achievements. Employers will often verify details, and credibility matters.
Samir notes, “A resume should build trust from the first line. The moment something feels inflated or inconsistent, it can undermine the whole application.”
Unexplained gaps or inconsistencies
You do not need to over-explain every gap in your work history, but leaving major gaps or unclear dates unexplained can raise questions for an employer. When a hiring manager cannot easily follow your career timeline, they may start making assumptions, and that can distract from the strengths and experience you want them to focus on.
If you took time out for study, travel, parenting, caring responsibilities, redundancy or health reasons, a short and positive explanation is usually enough. The aim is not to go into personal detail. It is simply to provide context so your CV still feels clear, credible and easy to understand.
The same applies to inconsistencies such as overlapping dates, very short-term roles or changes in job title that may look confusing without explanation. A brief note can help avoid unnecessary doubt and keep the focus on your suitability for the role.
Personal preferences and unrelated hobbies
While some interests can add personality to your resume, very personal preferences or hobbies that do not add anything meaningful are usually better left off. The same goes for anything that could feel divisive, overly niche or unrelated to the role.
For example, it is usually best not to include personal preferences such as:
political interests
religious activities unless directly relevant
hobbies that are very casual
overly niche interests
controversial
If you do include interests, choose examples that reflect something positive and relevant about you, such as volunteering, coaching sport, mentoring, fundraising, community involvement or creative pursuits that show discipline, teamwork or leadership.
Headshots
Many people still wonder whether they should include a photo on their resume. In New Zealand, the answer is no, unless an employer has specifically asked for one, which is rare.
Keeping photos off your resume also helps maintain a more professional and consistent focus on your capabilities. Your resume should be about what you can do and the value you bring, not personal appearance.
Reasons for leaving jobs
This information is not usually needed on a resume. In most cases, your resume should stay focused on your experience, achievements and suitability for the role, rather than explaining why you moved on from previous positions. If the reason for leaving becomes relevant, it can be discussed later in the hiring process, such as during an interview.
As Samir says, “Your resume should focus on where you can add value, not on unpacking every career move you have made. Reasons for leaving can be discussed later if needed, but on the page, the priority should always be relevance, clarity and professionalism.”
Graphics, tables and unusual formatting
Highly designed resumes can look impressive, but they can sometimes make reading harder and may not perform well in digital screening systems. Graphics such as icons, text boxes, charts, columns or skill bars may seem like a good way to stand out, but they can create problems if they interrupt the flow of your information or make your resume harder to scan. The same applies to tables and unusual layouts, which can sometimes confuse software that is trying to read your work history, qualifications or contact details.
Related: What is the best font to use for a CV
Too many soft skills
Soft skills matter, but listing too many without proof can weaken your resume. Qualities like communication, teamwork, adaptability and leadership are valuable, but if they are presented as a long list without examples, they can start to feel generic rather than convincing.
Employers are not just looking for claims. They want evidence. If your resume says you are a strong communicator or a great team player, it should also show how those strengths have played out in your work. That might mean highlighting a time you managed stakeholders, supported cross-functional projects, resolved issues effectively or led a team through a busy period.
As Samir says, “Soft skills absolutely matter, but they carry more weight when they are backed up by real examples. Rather than listing a long series of strengths, focus on showing how those qualities have helped you deliver results in the workplace.”
A stronger approach is to be selective. Choose the soft skills that are most relevant to the role, then reinforce them through your achievements and responsibilities. That way, your resume feels more credible, more tailored and more persuasive.
Final thoughts
Submit your resume
Avoiding the top resume mistakes can help you create a resume that feels more polished, more professional and more relevant to the role you want. The best resumes are not overloaded. They are intentional. Every section should earn its place and help an employer see why you are worth interviewing.
Looking for a new role? Submit your latest resume to us to receive matches with open positions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What should not be included on a resume?
You should usually leave out irrelevant experience, personal details such as your age or marital status, salary information, full referee details, and anything that does not strengthen your application.
Should I include a photo on my resume in New Zealand?
No, unless an employer has specifically asked for one (which is extremely rare).
Do I need to include my date of birth on a resume?
No. Your date of birth is not usually needed and should generally be left off your resume.
Should I include my marital status or children on my resume?
No. Personal details like marital status, children and religion are not usually relevant to your ability to do the job.
Can I include references on my resume?
You can, but it is often better to leave full referee details off and simply write “Referees available on request”.
Should I include salary details on my resume?
No. In New Zealand, salary details are not included on a resume and are usually discussed later in the hiring process.
Should I include basic computer skills on my resume?
Only if they are relevant. Basic skills like Microsoft Word or email are often assumed, while more advanced or role-specific systems are worth including.
Should I explain why I left a job on my resume?
No. Reasons for leaving are not normally needed on a resume and can be discussed later if relevant.
Can I include hobbies and interests on my resume?
Yes, but only if they add value. Irrelevant, overly personal or potentially divisive interests are usually better left off.
Should I include every job I have ever had on my resume?
No. Focus on your most relevant and recent experience rather than listing every role you have ever held.
Should I include soft skills on my resume?
Yes, but not as a long list without evidence. Soft skills are stronger when they are shown through your experience and results.
Should I include a full home address on my resume?
No. In most cases, your suburb is enough.
Can graphics and tables hurt a resume?
Yes. Unusual formatting, graphics and tables can make a resume harder to read and may not work well in digital screening systems.
