Remove These Elements from Your CV Immediately!

Got a recruiter call and need to send your CV fast?
Stop.

Before you hit submit, make sure your CV doesn’t include any of these common mistakes that instantly make recruiters cringe.

In 2025, hiring managers are reviewing more CVs than ever, and with applicant tracking systems (ATS) filtering candidates before a human even looks at your application, sloppy or outdated elements can cost you an interview.

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Here are the top 5 things you should delete from your CV immediately.

1) A Photo

“Should I put a photo on my CV?”
In the UK (and most global markets), the answer is no.

Including a headshot on your CV creates unnecessary risk for employers. Under the Equality Act, companies must prove their hiring process is free from bias. Adding a photo only raises legal and ethical concerns around discrimination based on age, race, or appearance.

👉 Exception: Only include a photo if you’re applying for roles where appearance is part of the hiring criteria (acting, modelling, broadcasting). For everything else, leave it off.

2) “I,” “Me,” and “We”

Even though your CV is about you, it should never be written in the first person.

• Wrong: “I led a team of 12 salespeople to deliver record results.”
• Right: “Led a team of 12 salespeople, delivering record-breaking revenue growth of 25% YoY.”

Third-person, achievement-driven bullet points sound more professional, take up less space, and allow recruiters to skim quickly.

3) Fancy Formatting and Graphics

It’s tempting to use colourful CV templates full of icons, columns, or skill bars. But here’s the truth:

• They confuse ATS software. Applicant tracking systems can’t always read multiple columns, graphics, or symbols. Your CV could be rejected before a recruiter even sees it.
• They look gimmicky. Recruiters tell us they roll their eyes at CVs that try to “stand out” with flashy design instead of strong content.

Keep your CV clean, professional, and ATS-friendly. Recruiters are hiring you for your ability to deliver results — not for your Canva skills.

4) An Objective Statement

It used to be common to start CVs with lines like:

“Objective: To secure a challenging role in a dynamic company where I can grow and contribute.”

Recruiters in 2025 see this as outdated filler. It wastes space that should be used to highlight career achievements, impact, and value-add.

Instead, use a Career Highlights or Key Expertise section with 3–5 achievement-driven bullet points. This instantly shows why you’re a strong candidate.

5) References

You don’t need to list your referees, nor add the line: “References available upon request.”

Recruiters assume you’ll provide them later in the hiring process. Adding them too early just wastes valuable space and can expose your referees’ personal contact details unnecessarily.

Prepare a separate reference sheet instead, and keep it ready to provide when asked.

In Summary

Recruiters are ruthless with CVs — and they have to be. With only 7 seconds on average spent reviewing each application, anything that looks sloppy, outdated, or irrelevant gives them a reason to move on.

By removing photos, personal pronouns, over-designed templates, objectives, and references, you’ll create a CV that matches recruiter expectations and makes it past both ATS filters and human reviewers.

To find out more, visit our website www.cvpilots.co.uk If you have any further questions, you can either book a consultation call with one of our team, or get in touch via email on team@cvpilots.co.uk