Page 185 - Complete Idiot's Guide to The Perfect Resume

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Chapter 10 ➤ Step Five: Education and Extra Credit

Money Talk

Although some job advertisements ask for a resume and salary history, the two do not go
together. Discussion about salary belongs in the interview, not on the resume. It is to your
advantage not to make a monetary request before an interview. Indicating salary require-
ments before the interview may increase your chances of being screened out and decrease
your bargaining power during salary negotiations.
If you feel obligated to address salary in order to fulfill the employer’s initial application
requirements, do so in your cover letter, not on your resume. Turn to Chapter 17, “The
Cover Letter Connection,” to get ideas for talking about money in your letter.

Referring to References

Addresses and phone numbers of references should not be a part of your resume. They
belong on a separate sheet of paper that you bring to the job interview.

Bonus Check
When creating your reference sheet to take to the interview, put it on letterhead that
matches your resume and cover letter. In addition to looking spiffy, the letterhead will
identify whose reference sheet it is if it gets separated from your letter and resume.

Also, a big thumbs-down on writing “References
available upon request” at the bottom of your
resume. It’s unnecessary, because employers will
assume that you have references, and they know to
ask for them when the time comes.

Forget the Personal Stuff Job-Hunt Hint
Although personal information
Including information about your age, sex, marital
doesn’t usually appear on a
status, and health is not appropriate for resumes
resume, you may want to make
being used in the United States (but you might want
an exception if something in your
to include some personal information on your
personal life supports your job
resume if something in your personal life supports
objective. For instance, if you’re
your job objective). If you’re applying abroad (in
applying for a position designing
Europe or the United Kingdom), however, it might content for a Web site on dia-
be expected. betes, you might mention on your
resume (perhaps in your Summary
of Qualifications) that you have
diabetes if you think it will
increase your chances for an
interview.

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