Explaining a conviction by simply saying “I killed my spouse”, including a picture in swimwear, and stating that they were sacked for stealing, are amongst the most unusual CV blunders revealed in a survey by CareerBuilder.co.uk.

Other mis-judgements included submitting a CV on “Garfield the Cat” paper, a candidate explaining that they are financially incompetent, and listing a main hobby as going out with mates every single night.

Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder.co.uk, says:  “Recruitment managers do appreciate creativity in job applicants because sifting through piles of CVs often times can be a monotonous task. However, the key is to balance that creativity with professionalism. You want to stand out as someone unique but also as someone with applicable experience who can add value to the company.”

Other blunders revealed included one candidate included his chest and shoe sizes and another included holiday plans for the next three years and made it clear she would not be changing them.