Marketing manager Cerys Gardiner says removing her graduation year helped her avoid age bias and secure multiple interviews in weeks.
A 25-year-old woman has revealed the tiny tweak she made to her CV that she claims helped her land four job offers in under a month.
Cerys Gardiner, a marketing manager from the East Midlands, went viral on TikTok after sharing how she stripped her resume of age-related details – a move she believes changed everything.
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“I did one thing that absolutely changed the game for me,” Cerys told Hype Daily.
“Take your graduation year off your CV – it could be doing you more harm than good.”
Despite having six years of industry experience, Cerys worried her age was holding her back from landing higher-level roles.
While applying for marketing manager positions at just 23, she realised listing her diploma year might bias recruiters against her.
Within two weeks of removing it, she had nine interview requests and four job offers.
“I can’t believe that in this day and age people are still holding age against anyone,” she said.
“There are people twice my age who are useless at what they do, and younger people who are incredible.
Companies should want to snap them up, but we’re still caught up on age – that narrative needs to go.”
Cerys also removed other common CV details such as a profile photo, address and dates linked to her education.
Instead, she focused on key skills, a clear personal statement and her professional experience.
She explained: “I often receive feedback that I come across as mature, and people have been shocked by my age and experience.
I had six years in the industry but only graduated that year because I studied alongside full-time work.”
Her advice to other young professionals is clear: keep your CV simple, focus on skills and experience, and don’t let age give recruiters an excuse to overlook your potential.
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