Table 1 Descriptive information and demographic variables
CV/job application variable | Levels | n = 592 (%) |
|---|---|---|
Gender | Female Male Not provided | 369 (62.3%) 213 (36%) 10 (1.7%) |
Newly graduated | No Yes Not provided | 355 (60%) 227 (38.3%) 10 (1.7%) |
CV template | Regular template Professional template | 272 (45.9%) 320 (54.1%) |
The same font used consistently | Yes No | 547 (92.4%) 45 (7.6%) |
Punctuations used consistently | Yes No | 296 (45.4) 323 (54.6%) |
Experience list included | Yes No Incomplete | 379 (64.0%) 203 (43.3%) 10 (1.7%) |
Marital status included | Yes No | 232 (39.2%) 360 (60.8%) |
City of living included | Yes No | 509 (86%) 83 (14%) |
Personal statement included | Yes No | 463 (78.2%) 129(21.8%) |
The list of skills included | Yes No | 560 (94.6%) 32 (5.4%) |
List of skills tailored to the advertised job (n = 560) | Yes No | 130 (23.2%) 430 (76.8%) |
Personal photo included | Yes No | 480 (81.1%) 112 (19.9%) |
Type of personal photo | Casual Official No photo provided | 129 (21.8%) 351 (59.3%) 112 (18.9%) |
University grade level | Excellent Very Good Good Satisfactory Not provided | 94 (16%) 140 (24%) 94 (16%) 3 (0.005%) 261 (44%) |
Referees list included | Yes No | 65 (11.0%) 527 (89.0%) |
At least one misuse of big and small letters | Yes No | 466 (78.7%) 126 (21.3%) |
CV file format | Word Image Other | 486 (82.1%) 82 (13.9%) 16 (2.7%) 8 (1.4%) |
Number of CV/job application pages | 1 2 3 4 5 6 | 307 (51.9%) 217 (36.7%) 50 (8.4%) 14 (2.4%) 3 (0.5%) 1 (0.2%) |
Provided a cover letter in English | Yes No | 206 (34.8%) 386 (65.2%) |
English cover letter (n = 206) | ||
Tailored | Yes No | 89 (43.2%) 117 (56.8%) |
Structured | Yes No | 166 (80.6%) 40 (19.4%) |