Things to Avoid Putting on Your CV
When writing your CV, you need to think carefully about what you feature on there. Your choices can affect how recruiters perceive you. To help you out, we have sourced together some top hints and tips to make sure employers remember your CV for all the right reasons.
Date of birth
Your age doesn’t affect your ability to do the job you’re applying for, so it has no place on your CV. Employers should measure your ability on years of experience, not how old you are. But of course always check before applying as some job roles e.g. working in the NHS have age restrictions. In the UK, under the Equality Act 2010, it’s illegal for employers to discriminate against candidates because of their age. Therefore, recruiters should not ask for this information during the job-application process, and they should not base their decisions on hiring or not hiring you based on how old you are. Don’t give them the fuel to do so by including your age on your CV.
References
How useful is the line ‘References available upon request’ at the end of your CV? Not very…
Across the UK, there is a mutual expectation between past and prospective employers that an exchange of references may be necessary when a new hire starts their role. Therefore, as everyone is in the know, it’s redundant to say at the end of your CV that you have references at hand. If your new employer wants a reference, they’ll ask for it, so use that space on the page for more important points to show recruiters what a great hire you’d make.
Home address
Once upon a time, listing your address on your CV was a requirement. Today however, you simply need to list your town and county. Most application forms ask you to fill in your address separately, so there’s little point in adding it to your CV too. But your general location can be a nice addition to your CV if your locality is deemed a selling point.
Photograph
In the UK, a photo of yourself is not required. Firstly, employers should judge you on your skills and experience, not what you look like. Therefore, it’s more beneficial to fill the space with the details they’re looking for. Secondly, avoid the possibility of age discrimination by not including a headshot on your CV.
Company-specific jargon
Whilst it’s important to highlight your knowledge and your understanding of the role and industry, it’s equally important not to overdo the use of jargon. Remember that the first person to read your CV may well be from the HR team, rather than the team directly involved in the work and you don’t want to alienate them with certain vocabulary. Ensure your CV makes sense to a lay-person; consider the reader in everything you write and ask a friend with no experience of your role read through it and highlight difficulties.
Reference: TopCV.co.uk