What not to put on your CV in 2018

It's the start of a new year and what better time to sit down and take a fresh look at your CV.

Reviewing your CV is something you should do every so often, thinking critically about what should be included and what is better left behind.

Here are our tip 8 CV errors to avoid this year:

1. The words “CV”
   Avoid planting “CV” or “Curriculum Vitae” at the top of the page – at this stage, anyone reading it will have a clear idea of what it is they're looking at. Include your name at the top instead.

2. Photos and personal information
   Unless you're an actor or model, there's no need to include a photo of yourself. The same goes for personal information (other than your basic contact details).

3. Personal aims and objectives
   Employers today don't particularly care what you want – it's all about their needs. If you do decide to reference what you're looking for, make sure that it's an exact match for what they want.

4. Jargon and buzzwords
   Recruiters appreciate plain speaking, so there's no need to litter the page with industry jargon, especially if it's not relevant to the sector you're hoping to work in. The same goes for “best-in-class”, “synergy” and all those other generic buzzwords – they're not going to impress anyone.

5. Everyday hobbies
   The fact you enjoy “reading, gardening and socialising” isn't exactly going to make a recruiter swoon. The interests section can really make you stand out, but to do so it needs to add another dimension to who you are. This is a chance to show your passion, the diversity of your interests and skills. If you can't think of anything besides going to the cinema consider skipping this section altogether.

6. Political affiliations
   Avoid references to memberships or affiliations with polarising (or arguably any) political groups, unless these are specifically relevant to the job.

7. Fluff
   Unless you're going for a role as an artist or graphic designer it's best to keep the frills – infographics, wacky fonts, fancy headers and footers etc. – to a minimum.

As eye-catching as they are, they're also likely to distract from the real “meat” on your CV and may also confuse the applicant-tracking systems that many employers now use. Stick to a simple, modern font like Arial.

1. "References upon request."
   It's clear you will provide references (otherwise you wouldn't apply for the job), so either include the names and roles of your references or de-clutter your CV and remove it.

When it comes to your CV there's one overarching rule to keep in mind: don't include information that doesn't directly pertain to landing the job. Less is always more – so before sending your CV out into the big wide world do a double take to make sure everything on there is relevant to the person who'll be reading it.

Reference: UK Press