5 Things to Leave off your CV

5 Things to Leave Off Your CV

Whether you’re writing your CV for the first time, or simply want to update your current CV ready for a new adventure, you might be unsure about what to include and what to leave off. When you search online, there can sometimes be conflicting information, and it might seem logical to include everything just to make sure you don’t miss anything important.

While it’s undoubtedly true that there are things that should always be included on your CV to give yourself the best chance at securing your dream job, it’s also true that there are things that don’t need to be included. Potentially, it could even harm your chances if you include things that don’t need to be there.

We have put together a list of the top 5 things to leave off your CV to help you create the best possible CV to highlight your skills and improve your chances of landing the role you’ve always wanted.

1. Your Picture and date of birth

In some countries, it is standard practice to include a photograph with your CV. In the UK, however, anti-discrimination laws mean that this practice is no longer common.

Again, because of anti-discrimination laws, there is no need to include your age or date of birth on your CV. This way, your skills and accomplishments are judged on their own merit, and not considered in relation to your age.

2. Boring, irrelevant, or divisive interests and hobbies

While you should make sure to include hobbies and interests on your CV to provide employers with a glimpse of your personality and life outside of work, try to keep them interesting. Ideally, it’s helpful if your hobbies and interests have some kind of relevance to the role you’re applying for.

For example, if you’re applying for a role as a librarian, then an interest in reading is useful. It’s also probably a good idea to leave off any particularly unusual interests that could impact the way an employer sees you. For example, if you’re passionate about mime, enchanted by ghost hunting, or devoted to cheesemaking, these things are better left off of your CV.

3. Jobs from more than 10 years ago

If you have more than 10 years of experience in a working environment, it isn’t relevant to include your entire working history. Focus on your most recent employers and list your positions in chronological order, starting with the most recent.

4. Irrelevant skills

You might be an exceptional baker, but if you’ve applied for a position as an accountant then it isn’t necessarily relevant to list this on your CV. Employers want to know that you’re going to be the best person for the role you’ve applied for. For this reason, you should focus on highlighting your most-relevant skills.

5. Irrelevant awards

While you’re probably, and quite rightly, proud of every single award you’ve gained throughout your career, they might not all be relevant to the role you’ve applied for. Employers often have a large number of CVs to read through and are limited on time, so you need to ensure that you are focussing on the awards and certifications most relevant to the role you’re applying for.

If you have a role which needs to be filled, or are looking for a new position for yourself, get in touch with our PDR team today and let us help you get the results you want, contact our Tunbridge Wells office on 01892 530226