Marital status – 10 types. Should I be included in my CV?

Single, married, bachelor, widower, even divorced!

This is the information employers can find in their CV .

Wondering whether to include your marital status on your CV?

In this article you will find out:

• if information about your marital status can help you get a job
• is it worth providing marital status in CV
• who should not enter marital status in CV

Do you want to save time and prepare your CV right away? Use our wizard, where you will find ready-made templates, tips and examples. Create your resume and cover letter in 5 minutes here .

See other templates, create resume and cover letter and download PDF documents here

Maybe You will also be interested in the guide: Personal questionnaire for an employee

1. Why do you not have to provide your marital status in your CV?

According to Polish law, a recruiter cannot ask you about your marital status. This information is not significant from the point of view of recruitment.

The employer is obliged to treat employees equally, including in the scope of establishing an employment relationship. This is guaranteed by Art. 18.3, par. 1 of the Labor Code:

Art. 183a. § 1. Employees should be treated equally in terms of entering into and terminating employment, terms of employment, promotion and access to training in order to improve professional qualifications, in particular regardless of sex, age, disability, race, religion, nationality, political beliefs, trade union affiliation, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, as well as, irrespective of fixed-term or permanent employment, full-time or part-time employment.

This means that your employer cannot require you to provide this information in your CV. Additionally, it cannot make your progress to the next stage of recruitment dependent on your marital status!

Then why so many candidates “boast” about their marital status in their CVs?

The main reason is ignorance. In Poland, many people think that marital status is a necessary element in a CV.

Recently, a lawyer sent us a CV for free evaluation. When we opened them, it turned out that … he entered his marital status in his CV.

TIP: Better describe in your CV your achievements and skills that will attract the employer’s attention to your CV.

Your true value is your skills and achievements. Highlight these elements on your CV instead of counting on your marital status to convince your employer to invite you to an interview.

See below how achievements and successes on your CV affect per employer:

Modern CV Template – see other templates and create a CV here

In the CV on the left, Marta only listed her responsibilities. Her CV does not really stand out from the CVs of other applicants.

Now have a look at the CV on the right. There is a “Achievement” section underneath each job description.

If you add “Achievements” to your CV, the employer gains the confidence that you are an effective employee and profitable for the company. This increases your chances of being invited to an interview.

Note : Make sure that there are no fundamental errors in your CV. You will find them in the free ebook “24 errors in your CV that prevent you from getting a job” . Download your free ebook here!

Want to know how to describe your successes to get the employer’s attention?

See the article on you will learn how to describe your achievements in your CV to increase your chances of employment:

“What should a CV look like for you to get a job? 6 tips (+ Template ) “(read)

2. Can providing your marital status in your CV reduce your chances of employment?

Marital status in your CV may harm or help you due to the stereotypes of children.

Note: The following statements are clichés and we do not endorse or follow them.

Married

Stereotype 1: “A married man is a settled and trustworthy man, hence a responsible employee.” eg:

If you are 30 years old, you are a man and you have children, marital status in your CV can help. It shows the employer that family is important to you, and therefore stability. There is a greater chance that you will stay longer in the company, because your decisions about changing jobs will not only depend on your “whim”, but on the well-being of your family.

Stereotype 2: “A married woman is still taking time off because she has a meeting at school with her child, or the child is sick.” eg :

If you are 28 and enter on your CV that you are married, it may make your employer think that you will barely come to work and get pregnant. Information on marital status in your CV reduces your chances of being hired.

In the above case, stereotype 1 may work favorably, stereotype 2 – very negative.

Virgo / Bachelor

Stereotype 1: ” A woman who is a virgin is a productive worker. She will be happy to devote herself to her career, company and overtime. There are no children like a married woman, so she doesn’t have to run step 17 to get her child before the nursery closes. “

Stereotype 2: “The job applicant is around 30 years old and single? the wedding is getting later and later, but is the candidate really a responsible man and employee and not Peter Pan? “

In the case of marital status” unmarried ” a woman is in a better position.

Stereotypes about marital status are ruthless. I had a friend who was the only one in the entire company who did not have an employment contract, only a B2B contract because … because she was the only woman with a double surname. The boss was afraid that a married friend would quickly get pregnant and disappear from the company.

Should I enter my marital status in English in my CV?

Please do not provide information about your marital status in your CV in English. This is especially important when you are sending your CV to an English employer. In England, there is a law that prohibits discrimination against job applicants on the grounds of, inter alia, marital status.

If you add it to your CV, your CV may not be recruited for formal reasons. The employer will simply be afraid of being accused of discrimination.

Why are the stereotypes based on marital status in your CV pointless?

A single woman can become unplanned at any time. A married man may divorce at any time!

Remember that an employer cannot ask you about your private life, even if your CV shows your marital status.

However, if you enter information about your status on your CV, you show readiness and openness to talk about it. Therefore, it is better to avoid the uncomfortable situation and do not include information about your private life in your CV.

See what information to enter in your CV to be invited for an interview:

“How to write a CV that will give you a job? 9 tips [Real examples]” (read)

3. What else might an employer think if you enter marital status on your CV?

See John’s CV on the right. See what’s taking up the most space in the right column:

Cubic CV Template – see other templates and create a resume here

This is the “skills” section. There are as many as 6 items on it. Personal information is just 3 items. This is one of the reasons why Piotr’s CV is so effective.

If you put too much personal information on your CV, your employer may think that you just don’t have anything to fill in your blank CV . You lack interesting information about skills, knowledge of programs and languages.

See what to write in skills on your CV to get an interview invitation:

“Skills for your CV. What to type to find a job quickly? (Examples)”. (read)

In this article you will see what to enter in your personal data on your CV to make your CV effective:

“Personal data in the CV. Sample in Polish, English and German.” (read)

Should I include having children in my CV?

If you are looking for a job in Poland or in English-speaking countries, do not enter information about children in your CV. If you are looking for a job in Germany, you can add this information to your CV.

Now you know that your marital status in your CV is completely unnecessary from a recruitment point of view. Skip it on your CV and use the recovered space to describe an important skill that will increase your chances of employment.

Regardless of your marital status, do not forget about the formalities in your CV: Check how to write a CV clause in 2020

Do you also need to write a cover letter? In our creator you will find modern patterns to fill and practical advice. Create a cover letter in 5 minutes here .

See other templates, create a cover letter and download the PDF document here .

Also check how to describe your education in your CV: Education in CV

Do you enter your marital status in your CV? Do you think employers follow stereotypes when hiring employees? Let me know what you think in the comment.