Introduction

A strong CV can open doors in seconds — a bad one can close them forever.

Studies show recruiters spend an average of 7–10 seconds scanning a resume before deciding whether to read more.

In competitive fields like IT Sales and Cybersecurity, that decision can be even faster. That’s why every word, every bullet point, and every detail must work for you — not against you.

In my 18+ years as an Executive Headhunter in the DACH and Nordic regions, I’ve seen thousands of resumes — and I keep spotting the same costly mistakes.

This article reveals:

• 15 things that no longer belong in a competitive CV

• What to do instead

• How to make your resume a sales document that hiring managers can’t ignore

15 Things to Remove From Your CV in 2025

1. 

Unprofessional or Outdated Photo

(optional in DACH, omit in US/UK)

If you use a photo, make it professional, recent, and high quality. Holiday snaps, selfies, or cheap AI renders do more harm than good. If you don’t have a good one — leave it out.

2. 

Overdesigned Templates

Flashy colors, creative fonts, or multi-column layouts look nice but hurt readability — and confuse Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Keep it simple, clear, and professional.

3. 

Too Many Personal Details

Marital status, date of birth, number of children, or place of birth are irrelevant to your professional value and can trigger bias. Stick to name, location, phone, email, and LinkedIn URL.

4. 

Irrelevant Hobbies

“Reading, traveling, sports” tells no story. If you mention hobbies, make them relevant: e.g., “Board Member, Tech Association” or “Volunteer Mentor in Sales Bootcamp.”

5. 

Outdated or Irrelevant Training

A PowerPoint course from 2015? Gone. Keep only current and role-relevant certifications — in IT Sales & Cybersecurity, that might mean MEDDICC, CISSP, AWS, or similar.

6. 

Old Internships or Volunteer Roles

Once you have significant professional experience, early internships and unrelated volunteer work just take up space. Keep only those that add value or fill gaps.

7. 

Early School Education

Primary school or high school diplomas are irrelevant once you have a degree or years of work experience. Keep only your highest relevant qualifications.

8. 

Vague Date Ranges

“2022–2023” without months looks suspicious. Be precise: MM.YYYY–MM.YYYY. It builds trust.

9. 

Complete Work History Since School

Your CV isn’t an archive — it’s a marketing document. Focus on the last 10–12 years unless earlier roles are directly relevant.

10. 

Too Many or Too Few Bullet Points

15 bullets per role won’t be read. Just a title and company is also too little. Aim for 3–5 strong bullets per relevant role, each with measurable outcomes.

11. 

Too Much Detail on Old Jobs

The older the role, the fewer details it needs. A one-line summary is often enough for positions 10+ years back.

12. 

Unclear Job Titles & Jargon

If your title is “Senior Key Account Development Specialist – Blue Region,” external readers won’t understand it. Translate into market-standard titles like “Enterprise Account Executive (Cybersecurity).”

13. 

Outdated Technology Skills

Remove legacy systems like Internet Explorer, Lotus Notes, or “EDP knowledge.” Focus on tools relevant in 2025 and ones you truly master (Salesforce, Clari, Outreach, XDR/SASE, etc.).

14. 

Empty Buzzwords

“Team player, resilient, flexible” is just filler. Replace with proof:

“Led a cross-functional pursuit team of 6 and secured a €5.2M 3-year public sector contract.”

15. 

Passive Language

“Was involved in product development” sounds like you sat on the sidelines. Use active verbs + result:

“Developed and launched a product that increased annual revenue by 20%.”

How to Turn Your CV Into an Interview Magnet

1. 

Focus on Achievements, Not Duties

Always ask: What was the outcome of my work? Use numbers, percentages, and tangible results.

2. 

Structure for Skim-Reading

Most readers will scan your CV — make it easy: bold job titles, consistent date format, bullet points.

3. 

Keep It Relevant

If it doesn’t help you get the job you want, cut it.

4. 

Use Strong Verbs

Won, increased, reduced, built, launched, implemented.

5. 

Keep It ATS-Friendly

One column, no text boxes, and include relevant keywords from the job description.

Case Study – From 9 Pages to 2 and Multiple Offers

I worked with a Senior Account Executive who had a 9-page CV filled with tasks and outdated content.

We cut it to 2 pages, focused only on relevant roles, and added measurable KPIs:

• Top 5% globally in 2023

• €4M in new business revenue in 12 months (145% of quota)

• Award for Most Successful Product Launch (EMEA) 2022

Within 3 weeks, he had 4 interviews with tier-one vendors — and 2 job offers.

Conclusion

A CV in 2025 isn’t a historical record — it’s your sales pitch. Every word should work to get you an interview.

Remove the fluff, replace vague statements with measurable results, and structure your CV so the most important achievements are visible within the first 7–10 seconds.