When you write a resume, allow the reader to retain a belief in your honesty and integrity by avoiding some simple credibility-robbing mistakes. On the other hand, you should not call attention to any perceived shortcomings in a marketing piece, which is what a resume actually should be.

That sometimes leaves us with a dilemma deciding what to put in, what to leave out, and how to state what we include. Review your own resume from these perspectives:

• Is it easy to read and understand?
• Is it accurate yet presents the very best perspective?
• Does it leave the reader without unnecessary suspicions?

Misrepresenting educational credentials, of course, is ground for later dismissal. But vague educational credentials may establish a subconscious bias, causing the prospective employer to want to look for other reasons to not consider you.

You must decide the relative positives and negatives associated with each resume writing decision. A functional resume which leaves out dates of employment is admittedly a red flag; but may still be the best method to play down age, gaps in employment, a lack of progression in responsibility levels, or a job hopping history. Do not use it unless you have a reason that is greater than the damage done by the somewhat automatic suspicion it causes.

Some other practices that frequently reduce credibility for hiring officials are:

• Vague certifications, i.e. "Certified in Inventory Control by APICS"
• Resume job titles that are found in the interview or reference check to be inaccurate
• Income levels that are inflated by including benefits and other allowances
• Attempts to appear to be employed when that is not the case
• Not being easily reachable by the hiring official.

As a hiring official, you can build a highly superior organization by selecting individuals that are slightly above average and using each individual's strengths to the fullest. For superior organizational performance, I believe the employer/employee relationship is one that must be based upon mutual honesty and respect, which starts with the resume.