Don’t Put This on Your CV: What to Avoid for a Stronger Application
When crafting your CV, it’s important to know what not to include just as much as what you should highlight. While you’re working hard to catch the attention of recruiters, certain common mistakes could end up costing you valuable opportunities. A cluttered, irrelevant, or poorly structured CV can easily lead to your application being overlooked.
To make sure you don’t fall into the trap of wasting valuable space or turning off potential employers, here’s a list of things you should definitely avoid putting on your CV.
Contents
Why You Should Leave Out Certain Information
Personal Details You Shouldn’t Include
Overused and Meaningless Buzzwords
Hobbies and Interests (Sometimes Best Left Out)
Photos: Why You Should Skip Them
Too Much or Too Little Detail About Work Experience
Salary Expectations
Lies or Exaggerations
References: Not Always Necessary
Why You Should Leave Out Certain Information
A CV is meant to showcase your skills, qualifications, and experiences in a clear, concise way that makes you stand out. However, if it’s packed with unnecessary information, it can make it harder for recruiters to see what makes you a great fit for the job. Keep in mind that the average recruiter spends less than 10 seconds reviewing a CV, so each word counts.
Here’s a breakdown of what to avoid and why.
Personal Details You Shouldn’t Include
Some personal details may seem important but are actually irrelevant to your job application. It’s best to leave these off your CV:
Age or Date of Birth: Age discrimination laws mean that employers shouldn’t consider your age when reviewing your application. Including it is unnecessary.
Marital Status and Family Information: Employers don’t need to know whether you’re married or have children. Keep it professional and focused on your qualifications.
Full Address: Your city and country of residence are usually enough. Sharing too much personal information can be risky.
Unprofessional Email Address: Make sure your contact email sounds professional. If your email address from your teenage years is still active (think: "coolguy123@gmail.com"), it's time for an update.
Overused and Meaningless Buzzwords
It’s tempting to fill your CV with phrases like "hardworking," "motivated," or "team player," but these overused buzzwords rarely add any real value. They’re vague and don’t tell recruiters anything concrete about your skills or achievements. Instead of throwing in a string of generic terms, focus on providing examples of how you’ve demonstrated these qualities. Show, don’t tell.
For example, instead of saying you’re a "self-starter," mention a project where you took initiative and achieved specific results.
Hobbies and Interests (Sometimes Best Left Out)
Unless your hobbies and interests are directly related to the role you’re applying for, they usually aren’t relevant enough to include. Recruiters are more interested in your work experience and skills.
However, if a hobby demonstrates valuable skills for the job (like team sports showing teamwork or a personal blog that displays your writing ability), it can be a great addition. Just be selective—there’s no need to list every personal interest.
Photos: Why You Should Skip Them
Including a photo on your CV might seem like a good idea—after all, first impressions count, right? However, most career experts advise against it.
Here’s why:
Bias and Discrimination: Adding a photo opens up the possibility of unconscious bias, where your application might be judged based on your appearance rather than your qualifications. To avoid any potential discrimination, it’s best to let your skills and experience speak for themselves.
Not Required: In many countries, especially the UK, US, and Canada, it’s not common practice to include a photo. In fact, some companies may automatically discard CVs with photos to avoid any legal issues surrounding bias.
Instead, use the space for more important information like your accomplishments or key skills.
Too Much or Too Little Detail About Work Experience
One of the most common mistakes on CVs is including either too much or too little detail about previous work experience. Overloading your CV with irrelevant details can make it hard for recruiters to spot the information they’re actually looking for. On the other hand, being too vague won’t tell them enough about what you’ve done.
Find the right balance. Provide context for your responsibilities, and quantify your achievements wherever possible. For example, instead of simply stating that you "managed a team," say that you "led a team of 10 people, increasing productivity by 15% over six months."
Salary Expectations
Unless a job ad specifically asks for your salary expectations, it’s best to leave them out of your CV. Salary discussions usually come later in the hiring process, during interviews or negotiation stages. Mentioning it too soon can put off recruiters or disqualify you before you’ve had a chance to demonstrate your value.
Lies or Exaggerations
It’s tempting to embellish your experience or skills, especially if you feel underqualified for a role, but lying on your CV is a risky move. Not only could you be found out during the interview process, but even if you make it past that stage, being caught later on could result in losing the job. Honesty is always the best policy.
If you feel your qualifications aren’t strong enough, focus on the transferable skills you do have and your willingness to learn new things. Employers often value potential just as much as experience.
References: Not Always Necessary
Including a line like "references available upon request" is another common but unnecessary feature on many CVs. Most employers expect you to provide references if they ask, so there’s no need to mention it. Instead, use that space to provide more useful information, such as a brief overview of your skills or achievements.
Conclusion
Your CV is a snapshot of your professional self, so make sure it’s as polished, relevant, and focused as possible. By leaving out irrelevant or unnecessary details—like photos—and avoiding common mistakes, you’ll create a CV that stands out for all the right reasons.
Remember, less is often more when it comes to CV writing. Focus on quality over quantity, and keep your eye on what employers are really looking for—skills, experience, and potential!
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