What not to include in your CV?
TOP TIPS FOR CURRICULUM
From the recruiter’s perspective.
Applying for new job roles may be daunting and time-consuming; too many people make their CV look too intricate, affecting finding employment.
Your curriculum must be attractive enough to qualify for the next step. Recruitment agencies get hundreds of CVs daily. I handle the educational sector, expecting curriculums to be neat, tidy, and impressive. Unfortunately, not all applicants get invited for an interview, nor all CVs get looked at properly. It takes approximately 6 seconds for the recruiter to decide whether to contact the applicant or bin their CV.
If you wonder why your potential employer never did get back to you, there is a possibility that your curriculum was not impressive enough, or you did not fit the job role. I recruit ESL teachers; you would be surprised what information people do write on CV’s; a lot of it is unnecessary.
Here are my tips on what you should not include on your CV:
- Photo
It’s not essential to include your photo on your CV, but it may indeed make you more memorable. Pictures with your friends are simply unprofessional. If you do want to add a photo to your CV — that is completely fine, yet it must be a professional photo of yourself. Choosing a social media photo to save time is definitely not recommended. I have seen people taking those short cuts, hence the reminder.
2. Your religion
Whether you are a Christian, a Muslim, a Buddhist…Your religion does not contribute to your success. Your beliefs should not be shared with your potential employers; this can only cause preconceptions about your personality and belief system. When you meet new people, you don’t ask them who their God is, do you? Leave religious debates at the church or your friend’s circle.
3. Your CV should have no more than 2 pages unless you have a doctorate
Your CV should only consist of information that will make you look like a suitable and strong candidate for the job role you are applying for. Don’t hesitate to cut out unnecessary information. I have seen CV’s 3,4,5,6 even 7 pages long. I do not have time to read it. I delete it right away. Please keep it to a maximum of 2 pages. It should be neat and easy to read.
I have seen many curriculums looking messy, essay formats which no one would have time to read. If you use more than 2 fonts on your CV, it may look more like the essay homework you submitted without re-checking; I can guarantee you, it does not make you look stand out. Simplicity is distinct.
Also for the job history- it’s strongly suggested to put the last 3 jobs you had. Recruiters do not need to know all the jobs you have had since you started your employment. State dates, your responsibilities explicitly. All must be readable and neat. Not every single detail is necessary. Just the most important commitments you were carrying out. Think about transferable skills you have gained at those jobs; how can you apply these to the new job role?
4. Marital status
Whatever your marital status is, it should not be included in your CV. I am not too sure why people consider this information to be crucial to add. This does not tell me what an incredible employee you are. Delete this section.
5. Gender
If you worry about gender equality or gender discrimination as it seems to be trendy nowadays, I suggest leaving this bit out. If you don’t worry about those perceptions…still get rid of it.
6. Nationality /Place of birth
This information is available on your passport, and it’s advisable not to add it to your curriculum.
7. Health
Please do not state how great or excellent you feel. Health is essential but would you ever bring this up in your interview?
8. Personal profile: Your strengths
These are your selling points and your time to shine to convince the recruiter why you should get the job. Your words should be carefully chosen, selective, smart, and appropriate for the job role you are applying for.
I covered the most common mistakes job seekers make; I hope this article will help you become more employable.
They say ‘don’t judge the book by its cover’ but what the book covers are for then? They attract the readers, just like your CV attracts your potential employer.
The body of your email and your CV is what will select you for the next process of recruitment- an interview. Approaching a recruiter in an email format is another issue I may address in the future…
I hope this helps.
Good luck!
To your success!
Veronika, an ESL teacher & recruiter.
