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3 things that should never be on your CV
An employer wants to double click on your CV file and be amazed by what they see. You have all the right skills and qualifications, and even some experience as well. But there are some things they don’t want to see that could cost you an interview.
A job seeker spends so many hours deciding what to put in their CV. But what shouldn’t be included is equally as important. Here are 3 things that should never be on your CV…
Irrelevant information
The hiring manager will know exactly who they want to hire for their team. They are the ones who have created the job advert. They are the ones who know what skills, qualifications and experience is required. Your job as an applicant is to create a CV that proves to them you have what they want.
Writing a CV that provides the right information seems easy, right? However, one of the most common reasons why a CV is rejected is because of too much irrelevant information. The job seeker fails to recognise the requirements of the role, and writes a CV which is too generic.
A good example of this is when a candidate lists ALL of their tasks and responsibilities for every single job they’ve ever had. This huge long list of irrelevant tasks often spills over to the third page, creating further problems.
Keep the irrelevant roles and details short, and highlight and expand upon the ones that you know will be of interest. This will make the readers life much easier, and will also allow you to stick to the standard two-page CV.
If you want to know how to write a relevant CV, here’s ‘How to tailor your CV to the role’.
Personal information
You only have to provide your name and contact details on a CV. So don’t worry about anything else! You don’t have to state if you are single or married, your religion, height or age.
This kind of information has no bearing on whether or not you are suitable or capable of working well in the role, so there is no need to include it. You may also be discriminated against if you do, so another reason not to add any personal information.
You should be focusing upon the demands of the role, and nothing else. It does not matter what gender you are or which football team you support. Keep your personal life person, and focus on the business side of things. You want to make it through to the interview stage so you can speak your case. An employer may judge you before the interview stage if you allow them to see anything personal.
Embellishments or lies
Most CV writers embellish certain facts and information about themselves. It’s quite natural to want to impress an employer, and a job seeker will of course always be very biased about their credentials. A few embellishments here and there cannot harm, right?
The problem with this is that you need to be careful not to cross over the line and tell lies on your CV. Writing a positive and attractive CV is one thing, but telling outright lies is another.
First of all, you may get caught out very quickly in the interview when questioned about these things. You could be instantly excused from the interview, or just be rejected at a later date. This not only wastes the employer’s time but yours also, which could be better spent writing an honest and trustworthy application.
You can also be dismissed from the job if you are found to have lied on your CV. Again, this causes a lot of stress and hassle for all concerned and another reason why this should be avoided.
Know your rights! If you’ve been discriminated against at work, you don’t have to sit back and ignore it. Click here for more information.
