Applying for jobs can be a daunting experience, and a former recruiter has shared the top things she insists companies don’t want to see on your applications or CVs which people often add
Putting yourself forward for new job roles can bring a scene of excitement and ambition, it can also be quite a daunting experience. If you’ve been searching for employment recently, you’ll understand the frustration of submitting countless applications, attending interviews, and completing assessments only to receive radio silence or generic rejection emails from potential employers. The job-seeking process can feel disheartening, but persistence is essential if you’re determined to secure a new role.
However, if you keep getting rejected, it might be time to take a look at ways you can improve your applications. A recruitment specialist has revealed the key mistakes she regularly encounters on job applications that companies absolutely detest seeing. It seems numerous recurring blunders on CV’s are deterring hiring managers from considering candidates.
Sophie, a Brit who works for a business in Stockholm, used to be a recruiter – and following her experience, she has been issuing advice online to people job hunting. Sophie took to TikTok and said: “As a former recruiter, these are things I don’t want to see on your CV.”
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Exact home address
While it is good to include the city or town you live in, Sophie said it is not necessary to include your full address on your CV.
She explained: “I don’t need to know your street and what your house number is.”
Email addresses
We all remember when we got our very first email address. It is likely you gave it a funny name relating to your personality, hobbies, or your nickname. However it could put off potential employers.
Sophie added: “Unprofessional email address like ‘[email protected]’…”. It might be a good idea to create a new email address for applications if you do not have one that is appropriate.
Certain photographs
Many people like to include a photograph of themselves on their CV. If you are applying for positions in sales or a front-facing role, you might think it’s necessary.
However Sophie said as a recruiter, she told people not to include certain kinds of pictures. “If you’re including a photo, I don’t want to see a selfie, I also don’t want to see you and your dog,” Sophie noted.
Indeed.com states: “While some people want to add a professional photo to their resume, the standard practice is to exclude this element. There are several benefits to not adding a photo to your resume, such as keeping your resume concise. Knowing when a resume picture is acceptable and reviewing expert tips for including one can help you protect yourself from unconscious bias and improve your job prospects.”
Personal details
Sophie insists that you do not need to include personal details on your CV – such as your relationship status or your hobbies.
Speaking about hobbies, Sophie said: “Now this can depend a little bit based on what the company is that you’re applying to, but in general if you play tennis on the weekend, it doesn’t make a difference to the recruiter.”
Speaking about your experience
Sophie pointed out that it’s best to avoid using the word ‘I’ on your CV as it’s implied. She added: “Instead, you want to start off with action verbs, such as spearheaded or consult[ed].”
She also said this one line is not necessary on your CV. Sophie continued: “Please don’t write references available upon request – the number of CV’s I’ve seen with this…I know I can request your references.”
Sophie also said it is key to write about how you had an impact in your former roles, with statistical evidence, rather than just listing duties.