Remove These Elements from Your CV Immediately!
Recruiter called?
Need to edit your CV and send it off quickly?
These five CV features are known to make recruiters cringe, so make sure to delete them before you hit submit!
1) Photo
“Should I put a photo on my CV?” In the United Kingdom, the answer is no.
By law, companies need to prove that their hiring processes are free of discrimination.
By including a photo on your CV, you’re opening up the company to proving that there was no discrimination in the areas covered by the Equality Act including race and age. Most companies don’t want to deal with the potential liability.
The only instance in which you might include a photo is if you are applying for roles where your physical appearance is a part of the hiring criteria (such as acting or modelling, for example).
2) “I,” “Me,” and “We”
Never include the words “I,” “Me,” or “We” on your CV.
Although your CV is a personal marketing document, it should always be written in the third person.
Third-person writing makes you sound more professional and generally takes up less space, allowing you to fit more valuable information onto the page.
3) Fancy formatting and graphics
Keep your CV formatting classy and conservative.
Many online CV builders that promise to deliver sleek, modern CVs end up creating documents that aren’t taken very seriously by recruiters.
These graphic CVs often include bold colours, multiple columns, creative fonts and symbols that allow you to rate your skills on a 1-5 scale.
While they may look cool, they can put you at a disadvantage for two reasons:
1) They make look like you’re trying too hard
2) Applicant tracking systems can have a hard time pulling information from them
Let your skills and experience speak for themselves and stick to a traditional, easy-to-read CV format.
Recruiters are hiring you based on your ability to do the job – not on your ability to put together an Instagramable CV!
4) Objective
When you submit your CV for a given position, your objective is to land an interview for that role, right?
We’ll assume so.
Including an objective on your CV does not add any value, and recruiters no longer expect to see them.
We recommend saving the space and using it to add additional information about your skills and experience.
5) References
You do not need to include references on your CV or say that “references are available upon request.”
Recruiters generally ask for references later in the hiring process, and they assume you will have a few to provide when they are requested.
In Summary
By avoiding these and other common CV writing issues, you'll craft a document that matches recruiter expectations.
About CV Pilots
CV Pilots is an award-winning executive CV writing firm and a proud member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches. Our previous clients include CEOs and senior executives at the world's leading companies.
As a professional services firm, we take your reputation seriously. We are committed to delivering writing excellence and superior service while operating with integrity and discretion. Recruitment firms we partner with also trust us to consistently deliver quality documents for their clients.
Our writers have studied at top-tier universities and have strong writing backgrounds coupled with industry experience.
Here's how we can help you:
CV, Cover Letter and LinkedIn Writing Services: If you are looking for end-to-end support, hire one of our professional CV writers to rewrite your documents from the ground up.
Executive CV Template Downloads: If you plan to prepare your own CV, consider using one of our classic, ATS-friendly CV templates for Microsoft Word.
To learn more about our services, book an introductory call with our founder here or email team@cvpilots.co.uk.
About the AuthorMatt Glodz
Matt Glodz is the Founder and Managing Partner of CV Pilots and a Certified Professional Resume Writer.
After studying business communication at Cornell University, Matt worked for global companies, where he noted that qualified candidates were frequently denied interview opportunities due to poorly written documents.
At CV Pilots, Matt combines his solid business and writing background to craft CVs that give his clients the best chance of landing interviews. He has lived in the UK, US and Italy.
Based in London, he currently works with applicants ranging from CEOs to recent graduates and has been writing CVs for over 10 years.
He has been quoted on numerous business and career-related topics in outlets including Business Insider, CNBC, Fortune, Glassdoor, The Ladders, The Times and Thrive Global.