Why Your CV Might Be Getting Binned Before Anyone Reads It

There’s a habit that seems to be creeping into more and more CVs lately, and it’s quietly costing candidates interviews. I’m talking about leaving your address off entirely.

Around one in three CVs I see are missing this now, and I think I understand why. Some candidates worry that listing an address will rule them out of a role for being too far away, especially if they drive. Others are hoping to land remote work and think leaving location off might improve their chances of getting that call.

In reality, it’s having the opposite effect.

AI hasn’t replaced the manual CV review, not by a long way. On a typical day I’ll review around 200 CVs. If I’ve got four hours set aside for resourcing, that’s roughly a minute per CV. The other four hours go on speaking to candidates and clients. And I’m not unusual in that, plenty of recruiters are working to similar numbers.

The Reality of the Recruiter 6-Second Scan

That means there simply isn’t time to read through someone’s full work history, or pick up the phone, or send an email, just to find out where they’re based. If a CV has no address, that follow up email, text and phone call can easily add another two to five minutes on top. Multiply that across a stack of 200 CVs and it’s obvious why most people won’t bother chasing it.

Common CV Mistakes: The Problem with Missing Context

Just last week I had the perfect candidate whose CV listed an address in Scotland. It was too good a CV to just pass over, so I reached out anyway, and it turned out they were actively looking to relocate. Lucky, in that case. But I’m no mind reader, and most CVs won’t get that benefit of the doubt.

Which brings up another point. If you are relocating, or open to it, say so on your CV. Don’t assume a recruiter will ask, or that they’ll guess. State it clearly, alongside your current location.

How to Fix Your CV Format for Remote and Office Roles 

The fix is simple. Add your town or city, even if it’s just as a minimum. This applies whether you’re applying for office based roles or remote ones. Remote jobs often still involve some travel into the office for training or meetings, so employers still want to know roughly where you are. And if you’re planning to move, put that in writing too.

We get CVs land on our desk from all over, Glasgow, Gillingham, Geneva, you name it, and rarely any explanation as to why. A location without context just raises more questions than it answers. So do yourself a favour: tell us where you are, and if that’s changing, tell us that too.

Don’t let something this small be the reason your CV never gets read. Add your location, it takes seconds, and it keeps you in the game.

FAQs

Why am I not getting interviews with my CV?

If you’re consistently not even getting past the initial screening, your CV must be hitting roadblocks early in the process. Common reasons include incomplete contact details (like town or city), file formatting that trips up Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), sending generic untailored applications or listing job duties rather than quantifiable achievements.

How do recruiters screen CVs so fast?

During the initial screening, your CV rarely gets read in full. Recruiters will scan for details that are relevant to the role you are applying for, often previous experience. They instantly look for your current location, most recent job titles, relevant core skills and must-haves from the employer. If any of this is hard to find or interpret, you are already at an advantage.

Why does my resume keep getting rejected?

If you are sure you are qualified for the positions that you are applying for but you never get past the first hurdle, then you must consider that your CV might be letting you down. Go through it in detail to ensure everything is correct and all the salient points are well presented and easy to find.

How do I tailor a CV for every application?

Rewrite your top intro section to match the target job title and highlight the exact core value requested in the job advertisement.  Mirror the job advert terminology; adjust your internal phrasing to match the employer’s wording. Move your most relevant accomplishments and hard skills to the top of each work history section so they are seen during the initial scan. Check for essential qualifications or experience and make sure they are clear and obvious on your CV.