You will often come across helpful guides and tips on what to include in your CV, so we thought we’d create a list of 3 things you shouldn’t include. Knowing what not to include is just as important, and with so many other applications to review the hiring manager is looking for only the best candidate.
To help you get that one step closer to your dream job, here are 2 things you shouldn’t include in your CV:
Irrelevant information
It isn’t always possible to create a CV that is completely 100% relevant to the role, but you can certainly try and get it as close as possible. This can be especially hard if you don’t have relevant experience, however it doesn’t mean to say you can’t tailor your CV to the role.
Writing a generic CV is mainly to blame for this kind of error, and with so many job seekers out there deciding to write only one CV, they are running the risk of not making the employer feel important.
The hiring manager wants to read a CV that clearly identifies how that individual could function well in the role, and how they would benefit the company with their skills, knowledge and experience. With just a few tweaks to your CV you could bring out all the relevant skills and highlight what they are looking for.
Personal details
There are certain types of personal information which do not and should not be written on a CV. A few examples are – religion, relationship status, nationality, date of birth, and so on. We would all like to think that we live in a world whereby the employer will always base their decision solely on an individual’s credentials, but unfortunately this isn’t the case.
By submitting any personal details you are running the risk of being discriminated against, and there isn’t a lot you can do about it. Of course, you will never know why you were rejected, and it could have been because of your personal information.
“These details don’t affect your ability to do a job. Therefore, you don’t need to include this information on your CV. Plus, these are protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010,” explains Laura Slingo for the Telegraph.
The only personal information you need to put down on your CV is:
- Name
- Professional title
- Contact telephone number
- Email address
The employer needs nothing more, and nothing less. So don’t provide anything else and let the hiring manager focus upon your skills and qualifications alone to help them with their decision.