Looking for a new job is undoubtedly difficult, but a woman has gone viral on social media after revealing the simple detail she doesn't include on her CV in order to get noticed for managerial positions.
When starting her job hunt last year, Cerys Gardiner, 24, made sure her resume had all the necessary information on it but ensured one specific detail wasn't included. While it may be natural for people to include their graduation year on their CV, Gardiner insists that removing it is "a game changer."
Speaking to Newsweek about her simple hack, Gardiner, from the United Kingdom, explained that she was "always conscious" that having her graduation year on her CV would have a direct impact on her job search. At the age of 23 she started looking for managerial roles, and she didn't want employers to judge her ability based on her age.
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"Having overheard and been subject to conversations with senior professionals where someone's ability was questioned due to their age, I didn't want to give hiring managers any chance to judge me based on age," she said.
"Unconscious bias is a huge issue, so even with the best intentions, individuals can make unfair assumptions. This goes both ways, and I have heard negative experiences where older professionals have been subject to bias," she said.
After starting her job search, Gardiner was delighted to get nine interviews in the first two weeks, and she received four job offers within a month. She likes to think that much of that success was because employers appreciated the experience she has, regardless of her age.
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On August 20, she took to TikTok (@marketingbycerys) to share this simple trick with her followers. The video went viral with over 140,000 views and more than 8,700 comments in a matter of days.
Gardiner continued: "Although we like to think the law protects us from age discrimination, it doesn't stop it from happening behind the scenes. As someone looking for a job, you have no idea whether the hiring manager is still taking things like graduation year and age into consideration over your experience.
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"It is so common in the corporate world and the belief is that age equals experience. On many occasions, I have heard an individual's ability be questioned due to their age."
While the education section of a resume is necessary, job search website Indeed suggests that a graduation year is optional. However, they note that it might be worth including if an individual has graduated in the last three years.
Samuel Johns, a certified professional resume reviewer and recruiting manager for CV Genius, told Newsweek that removing your graduation year is "a smart strategy" for those who are concerned about age bias.
He added that it doesn't just benefit younger employees who are near the start of their career but can also help those who are worried about being viewed as too old for a job role.
"Employers may make assumptions based on your age, so it's often more effective to spotlight your skills, accomplishments, and the value you bring," Johns said. "For managerial roles, what matters most to employers is your leadership, strategic thinking, and ability to deliver results.
"If your CV emphasizes these strengths, leaving off your graduation year won't matter much because it keeps the attention on what actually matters."
Johns says that candidates should ensure their resume does all the talking for them by showing their "experience and results clearly."
How Did Social Media Respond?
While her age was never questioned or brought up by potential employers, Gardiner was told that she "seemed older" and they were impressed by her experience.
After sharing her CV trick on social media, Gardiner has been pleased by the overwhelmingly positive reaction online. She regularly posts on TikTok to share her career tips and help people perfect their resume.
Gardiner hopes that removing that all-important year might help others land an interview for their dream job.
"The reaction has been exceedingly positive from all angles," Gardiner told Newsweek. "Those looking for jobs have praised the hack, saying it has worked wonders for them and they have gone to take their graduation year off their LinkedIn too. Recruiters have also echoed how great an idea this is to protect yourself from age discrimination."
The viral TikTok video has certainly captured plenty of attention, as social media users thanked Gardiner for sharing her hack.
One comment reads: "Ageism is a real thing and I've just removed education dates off mine. I'm on the other side of it in my 40s."
Another TikToker wrote: "Took my education years off my CV for the first time ever and got offered a management role with no experience and a salary increase of 8K, they asked me after interview & thought I was 5 [years] older!"
While another person added: "Deleting it from LinkedIn is also a good tip!"
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