CVs and application forms

You may also be sent a job specification setting out what skills and experience the employer is looking for. You should use this to emphasise your most relevant skills and experience, including those gained outside paid employment if relevant to the job.

If you send your CV to a variety of employers, you may have to focus on different points for different applications to make sure that your CV is as relevant as possible to the job you are applying for.

Date of birth

You do not have to put your date of birth on your CV or application form, although it is not automatically unlawful for employers to ask for it.

If you think your age was the reason you did not get a job or interview and the employer asked for your date of birth, you could use that as evidence of discrimination but it is unlikely to be enough on its own.

It is best practice for employers to ask for your age only on a separate equal opportunities monitoring form.

Get help with your CV

If you are receiving JSA your Personal Adviser at the Jobcentre Plus will be able to help with writing a CV and contacting employers.

Your local nextstep service may be able to help you with your CV. Go to the nextstep website or call the Learning and Skills Council on 0870 900 6800 (national call rate) for details of your nearest nextstep service.