Your CV is your professional brand statement, and it should highlight your value, expertise, and achievements in a way that makes hiring managers want to meet you. However, including unnecessary or outdated information can work against you. Here are eight things you should never put on your CV—plus what you should include instead to maximize your chances of landing interviews.

What to Leave Out 

1. Age / Date of Birth
   • Your age is irrelevant to your ability to do the job. Including it can lead to unconscious bias.
2. Marital Status
   • Your relationship status has no bearing on your qualifications or suitability for a role.
3. Home Address
   • A city and country are enough. Full addresses are unnecessary and may pose privacy concerns.
4. Dates of Education
   • Listing your graduation year can inadvertently reveal your age and lead to bias. Only include your degree or certification.
5. Children’s Names / Ages
   • Your family details don’t belong on your CV and don’t impact your ability to perform the job.
6. Languages That Aren’t Fluent
   • Only list languages if you are fluent or proficient enough to use them in a professional setting.
7. “References Available on Request”
   • Employers assume you can provide references. Save this space for more valuable content.
8. Lots of Information on Very Old Jobs
   • Jobs from 10–15+ years ago should be summarized rather than detailed, unless they are directly relevant to your current career path.

What to Include for More Interviews:

✅ Executive Summary (Your Elevator Pitch)

• A strong opening statement summarizing your expertise, skills, and unique value proposition.

✅ What You Want to Do Next and Where

• Make it clear what kind of role and industry you’re targeting.

✅ The Problems You Solve

• Highlight the key challenges you’ve tackled and the impact you’ve made.

✅ Residency / Work Rights

• Especially important for global or remote roles—be upfront about your work authorization.

✅ Remote, or Hybrid?

• Specify your preferred work setup to align with potential employers’ expectations.

✅ Key Achievements

• Quantifiable accomplishments that showcase your contributions and success in previous roles.

✅ Career History

• A clear, structured timeline of your work experience, emphasizing the most relevant roles.

✅ LinkedIn URL

• Ensure your LinkedIn profile is up to date and include the link for easy reference.

✅ Volunteering

• Relevant volunteer work can demonstrate leadership, passion, and community engagement.

✅ Education

• List your highest degree or relevant certifications, without including dates.

✅ Strengths

• Showcase your core competencies, whether strategic thinking, leadership, or technical skills.

✅ Training

• Certifications, workshops, and professional development courses that add to your expertise.

By optimizing your CV with the right content and removing unnecessary details, you’ll improve your chances of getting noticed—and ultimately landing more interviews. Take the time to refine your CV today and position yourself for success!

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