Not only what you say on your resume is important, but equally important is the way you say it. The information you provide can reveal a lot about you, and actually answer questions job interviewers cannot legally ask.
Here are some things in a resume that might cost you a job.
By law, employers are not allowed to ask candidates how old they are, but if you put on your resume that you graduated high school in 2001 and college in 2005, an interviewer can easily calculate their age. Just put your education but with no date. If an employer has “ someone younger in mind” that job in 1980 may be disqualify you, even if your skills match perfectly. Or, if they’re looking for “someone more experienced”, a resume stating “graduated from college in 2003” may imply inexperience or immaturity. Leave out the dates, if it’s important to them, they’ll ask.
Another question not allowed is whether you have children; but your resume can answer that question for them. For example, stating that you’ve “volunteered at the PTA” or ”coached Little League” certainly gives the impression you have kids. Your interviewer may be thinking “this is someone who will leave early for a soccer game or PTA meeting”.
Yes, being a dedicated parent can be a detriment in an interview, The same goes with religious or political affiliations: keep the “volunteer section” on your resume general, not specific: “active in community service” says the same thing without the details.
Finally “attention to detail” is a requisite in any job. Your resume is the first thing they see, so it needs to show that you are “detail oriented”. Spelling or grammatical mistakes are show stoppers. Review, edit, and review again!