Career

These three things are wasting space on your CV

We should concentrate on what to omit rather than what to include.
These three things are wasting space on your CV

It’s fair to say, not many of us relish the prospect of writing a CV.

In fact, as far as awkward life experiences go, it’s probably right up there with bumping into your ex at a wedding.

There’s just something so contrived about trumpeting one’s talents in clunky, third-person language.

But perhaps – in attempting to craft a stellar CV – we should concentrate on what to omit rather than what to include.

With the average employer taking just 30 seconds to look at a CV, the onus is on you to make yours as punchy and concise as possible.

Here are three common red herrings that the pros at Business Insider say you should strike off, to help give your CV instant oomph.

Keen knitter? Keep it to yourself.

Your hobbies

“In most cases, nobody cares,” says Business Insider careers reporter Rachel Gillett. “If it’s not relevant to the job you’re applying for, it’s a waste of space and a waste of the company’s time.”

References

“If your employers want to speak to your references, they’ll ask you,” says Gillett.

If you write ‘references upon request’ at the bottom of your resume, you’re merely wasting a valuable line, notes career coach Eli Amdur.

A photo of yourself

“This may become the norm at some point in the future, but it’s just weird — and tacky and distracting — to include a photo with your resume for now,” warns Gillett.

“Unless you are a TV personality or you require a headshot as part of your role, there is absolutely no reason that you should have a picture of your face,” Amanda Augustine, career expert at TopResume, adds.

This first appeared on Grazia Daily

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