Marital Status on CVs

[Denny]

I usually put Ms rather than Miss or Mrs, but don't do this if you're a guy, otherwise the agent will assume you're either thinking or or have had a sex change. A beefy bloke with hairy legs in a skirt doesn't make a good impression at interview. If you are a genuine tranny, ensure that you shave your legs before you go for interview.

Otherwise, just hint on your CV that you've worked in the security services that you can't expand upon. They'll assume you have contacts with knee busting credentials and won't dare mess with you by turning you down for the job.

[Joe Bloggs]

I put no personal information. No age, no gender, marital, hobbies, etc. Clients are buying services not a person.

Definately agree. In contracting the only thing that should really matter is are you up to the job, do you have the references and how much is it going to cost. I haven't included such details for years now. I do though include a couple of non-IT certificates which I guess indicates outside interests and...emm, age?

Here in Belgium though, I've seen mainly what I'd call quite traditional style CV's, even from contractors, e.g. jobs in chronological order, i.e. last job on the last page, DOB, status, number of kids (their DOB's as well) at the beginning etc., so what works in the UK might be considered differently in another country, e.g. leaving off marital status.

Wonder sometimes how my CV is seen here since I imagine it might come across as quite brash, 'anglo-saxon' compaired to what I've seen so far...

[mcquiggd]

I think employers think that this man has no life and will be sat in his hotel bar at night downing lager and stalking young estate agents late into the night.

Nothing wrong with staking estate agents, whatever their age.

[ladymuck]

I put single, no dependants purely because I worry that (being female) clients/agencies will assume I will want to hear the call of my biological clock at some point and take time off to drop a sprog in the middle of a contract. (Something I have no intention of doing, ever, by the way)

But then, I think I might just drop it from the next incarnation of my CV and see whether anyone even notices!

[MarillionFan]

"I think being single is an advantage for short term contracts where you have to relocate, a family man needs to work near home ."

I disagree. I think employers think that this man has no life and will be sat in his hotel bar at night downing lager and stalking young estate agents late into the night.

[AlfredJPruffock]

I think being single is an advantage for short term contracts where you have to relocate, a family man needs to work near home .

[MarillionFan]

Married or Single

I understand that ATW puts "Single and Ugly Bastard" on his.

[woo]

just put: gay
then you'll never work again.

or put: married with 4, kids, 10 grandchildren, 20 great grand children
then you'll be too old.
then you'll never work again.

or put: single
assumed as gay
then you'll never work again.

or put: have girlfriend
assumed as gay
then you'll never work again.

or put: nothing
then you might just get somewhere.

[mcquiggd]

I used to be well endowed, but I liquidated my assets - managed to get out of the housing market at a reasonable price with a cash buyer.

Now, should I pop round the shops to pick up a nice chianti and some proscuitto to enjoy with my Visual Studio 2005 self paced training? (sorry, trying to mix my wild carefree lifestyle with suitable levels of geekdom)

[DimPrawn]

I put no personal information. No age, no gender, marital, hobbies, etc.

Clients are buying services not a person. If they don't like they can go to India (and most do and regret it). Which makes me think, do they ask the Indian offshore supplier if Sanjit or Dipak is married? I doubt it somehow.

PS. I do however mention that I am incredibly well endowed. Well there's no harm in boasting is there?

[expat]

Do you put whether you are married or single on a CV?

Do you ask your plumber, taxi-driver, or doctor? So why should you go out of your way to offer this personal information to your clients?

[Not So Wise]

Used to put it, dropped it about a year ago as realised it's pointless in this day and age.

[messiah]

Do you put whether you are married or single on a CV ?

Do you think it has an impact on getting the job ?

eg If they think that you are married will they think you are a desperate bastardo trying to support your family and offer you a lower rate OR if they know you are single ... will they offer you a lower rate because they know that you don't have any dependents to support ?

what do you think ?