Things Most People Include in CVs That Should Not Be There

A Curriculum Vitae (CV) is a professional marketing document designed to present a candidate’s qualifications, skills, and experience in a concise and relevant manner. However, many job seekers—especially in competitive labour markets—include unnecessary, outdated, or inappropriate information that weakens their chances of being shortlisted. Instead of strengthening the application, these additions distract recruiters, reduce professionalism, and may even lead to automatic rejection.

This extensive guide outlines the common items people wrongly include in their CVs and explains why they should be avoided, as well as what should be included instead.

1. Irrelevant Personal DetailsWhat Many People Include

• Date of birth
• Marital status
• Religion
• Tribe or ethnicity
• Nationality (when not required)
• State of origin
• Gender (unless role-specific)

Why They Should Not Be Included

Modern recruitment practices focus on merit, competence, and suitability for the role. Including personal demographic details can create bias, appear unprofessional, and does not contribute to your ability to perform the job.

What to Include Instead

Only essential contact details:

• Full name
• Phone number
• Professional email address
• Location (city and state only)

2. Passport Photograph (When Not Requested)Common Practice

Many job seekers attach passport photographs to their CVs even when not requested.

Why It Is Not Recommended

Unless the employer specifically asks, including a photo is unnecessary and can expose the recruitment process to bias. It also occupies valuable space that could be used to highlight skills or achievements.

Exception

Photos may be required for roles in media, acting, or public relations where appearance is relevant.

3. Long Personal Profiles or BiographiesThe Mistake

Some CVs begin with long autobiographical statements describing life history, ambitions, and personal philosophy.

Why This Is Wrong

Recruiters spend limited time reviewing each CV. Long narratives reduce readability and may cause them to skip critical information.

Correct Approach

Use a concise professional summary (3–5 lines) that highlights:

• Years of experience
• Key competencies
• Career focus
• Value you offer to the employer

4. Irrelevant Work ExperienceCommon Error

Including every job ever done, even if unrelated to the role applied for.

Why This Weakens the CV

Employers want to see relevant experience. Listing unrelated roles makes your CV appear unfocused and may suggest lack of career direction.

What to Do Instead

• Include only roles relevant to the job
• Emphasize transferable skills where necessary
• Prioritize recent and impactful experiences

5. Primary and Secondary School Details (For Experienced Professionals)Frequent Mistake

Many applicants list their primary and secondary school education even after obtaining higher degrees.

Why It Is Unnecessary

Once you have a diploma, degree, or professional certification, earlier education becomes irrelevant. It wastes space and adds no professional value.

Recommended Practice

Only list:

• Tertiary education
• Professional certifications
• Relevant training programs

6. Excessive Use of Personal ObjectivesCommon Inclusion

Statements like:

“My objective is to work in a reputable organization where I can grow and develop my career.”Why This Is Ineffective

This focuses on what the candidate wants rather than what they can offer the employer. Employers are more interested in the value you bring.

Better Alternative

Use a professional summary that emphasizes your contribution and expertise.

7. Salary History or Salary ExpectationsWhy People Include It

Some applicants believe it shows transparency or helps negotiation.

Why It Should Be Avoided

Salary discussions belong to later recruitment stages. Including it early may:

• Limit negotiation power
• Lead to premature disqualification
• Appear unprofessional

8. Unprofessional Email AddressesCommon Examples

Emails containing nicknames, slang, or informal expressions.

Why This Is Harmful

It creates a poor first impression and suggests lack of professionalism.

Correct Practice

Use a simple and professional format:

firstname.lastname@email.com9. Hobbies That Add No Professional ValueWhat People List

• Watching movies
• Sleeping
• Playing games
• Hanging out with friends

Why This Is Not Advisable

Such hobbies do not add value or demonstrate professional qualities.

When to Include Hobbies

Only include hobbies that show useful attributes, such as:

• Reading professional literature
• Volunteering
• Research and innovation
• Community service

10. False or Exaggerated InformationCommon Temptation

Inflating job titles, skills, or experience to appear more qualified.

Why This Is Risky

Employers often verify claims during background checks. False information can lead to:

• Immediate disqualification
• Loss of credibility
• Job termination if discovered later

Honesty and accuracy are critical in professional CV writing.

11. Too Many Pages or Excessive DetailsFrequent Issue

Some CVs exceed 5–10 pages with unnecessary descriptions.

Why This Is Problematic

Recruiters prefer concise and focused CVs. Excess length reduces readability and may cause key information to be overlooked.

Ideal Length

• Entry-level: 1–2 pages
• Experienced professionals: 2–3 pages

12. Irrelevant Skills and Generic BuzzwordsCommon Additions

Words like:

• Hardworking
• Honest
• Dedicated
• Loyal

Why They Should Be Avoided

These are generic claims that cannot be easily verified. Employers prefer demonstrated competencies rather than vague adjectives.

Better Strategy

Show skills through achievements:

“Improved network uptime by implementing proactive monitoring.”13. References Listed in FullTypical Practice

Some CVs include names, phone numbers, and addresses of referees.

Why This Is Not Necessary

Referees should only be provided when requested. Including them early exposes their contact details unnecessarily and uses valuable space.

Recommended Statement“Referees available upon request.”14. Excessive Use of Graphics and DecorationsWhat People Do

Using colorful backgrounds, images, logos, or complex designs.

Why It Is Not Advisable

Such designs can:

• Distract recruiters
• Fail Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
• Appear unprofessional in conservative industries

Preferred Style

Use a clean, simple, and professional layout with clear headings and bullet points.

15. Personal Problems or Reasons for Leaving JobsIncorrect Inclusion

Statements like:

“Left due to conflicts with management”“Resigned because salary was too low”Why This Should Be Avoided

Such comments appear negative and unprofessional. Reasons for leaving are better discussed during interviews if asked.

16. Too Many Unrelated Certifications or Training

Listing every seminar or unrelated workshop attended can clutter the CV and dilute relevance.

Correct Approach

Only include:

• Certifications relevant to the job role
• Professional development directly linked to your career field

Conclusion

A strong CV is defined not only by what it contains but also by what it deliberately excludes. Including unnecessary personal details, irrelevant experiences, excessive information, unprofessional elements, or false claims can significantly reduce the chances of being shortlisted.

To create a competitive and professional CV, job seekers must focus on relevance, clarity, and value-driven content. By removing non-essential and inappropriate information, the CV becomes more concise, targeted, and impactful—thereby increasing the likelihood of attracting employer interest and securing job interviews in a highly competitive labour market.

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