The most important first step in preparing for a new job in the pharmaceutical industry is writing or updating your resume. There are numerous resume articles and templates that walk you through the professional information that should be included on your resume, but job seekers should be very careful about what is included on their resume. While the right things help lift you up, the wrong things can sink you to the bottom of the resume pile.

1. Include personal information

Never include personal information such as marital status, number of children, and your age on your resume. That kind of information doesn’t belong there. There are reasons why hiring managers and HR staff don’t ask personal questions during an interview—they don’t want to discriminate, whether accidentally or on purpose. Hiring managers tend to have preconceived notions about candidates that may not be in their favor. For example, if you are applying for a pharmaceutical sales position with a large territory and your resume says that you are married with 4 children, the manager may assume that you do not have the time to manage a large region. He omits personal information and leaves no room for discrimination or assumptions about your ability to do the job.

2. Working two full-time jobs at the same time

If you have employment dates on your resume that show you are or were working two jobs at the same time, this is a big mistake. The only acceptable reason would be if you had two part-time jobs, and if that is the case, make sure it is clear on your resume. Managers want employees to focus on the job they were hired to do and be fully engaged. If she’s working two roles at once, the hiring manager may think she lacks commitment.

3. Long resumes

Recruiters, human resources, and hiring managers may receive one hundred or more resumes for a position. If your resume isn’t short and to the point, it may not get read. People should be able to take one look at your resume and quickly notice your accomplishments and want to learn more about you. Use bullet points, short sentences, and organize by date to keep it simple and easy to understand.

4. Use less than 4.0 GPA

Many people are very proud of their 3.0 GPA or just happy to have graduated from college, and you should be. However, you never know the thought process of the hiring manager. They may be of the opinion that only a 3.5 or higher is acceptable. So unless you have the perfect 4.0 GPA, never put it on your resume.

5. Employment gaps

Nothing leaves more room for an employer’s imagination than leaving blank spaces on your resume. If for any reason you were unemployed for a significant amount of time (6 months or more), you need to address it. If he doesn’t, the hiring manager may make unflattering assumptions, such as that he simply quit his job for no good reason. For example, if you were downsized, put the date you left and some bullet points about what you’ve been up to since. If possible try to fill the gaps with consulting. It should look like he wants to get back to work.

6. Ignore dates of employment

Employers want to see a clear, concise and consistent employment record. This starts from your first job out of college. They also want to see longevity at their positions. No employer wants to hire someone who jumps from one job to another, they will worry that you will do the same to them. If there are no employment dates, employers may assume you are a job jumper.

7. Use your job descriptions on your resume

Do not use standard job descriptions to define your occupation. Make the position personal to you and show how you are different in the position. Set yourself apart by using bullet points of achievements, awards, or success milestones.

Take the first step to landing your dream job and write a resume that grabs your attention!