Job Discussion Forums

SandyG20 · Joined: 12 Sep 2007 Posts: 208

Ok international CVs want the personal stuff. I get that they want the year of birth. Ok but for marital status - what do I put down? Technically I am single - but actually divorced and have been for 20 plus years. In addition I have 1 adult - married child. So do I put down I am single with an adult child living on their own. Or divorced with 1 adult child living on their own? I want to make sure they know I do not have dependent young children to care for. Now if someone checks my stats and sees I have been married and I say single then it looks like I lied. If I don't put down that I have a child then it looks like I lied - but if I put it on it I want them to know my child is grown and on their own.

Opinions please?

hollysuel · Joined: 07 Oct 2007 Posts: 225 Location: Connecticut, USA

Put the truth:
Divorced with one adult child living on his/her own

Anda · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 2199 Location: Jiangsu Province

I have been divorced for over twenty years and have one independent adult offspring living separately from myself.

mandalayroad · Joined: 11 Mar 2008 Posts: 115

They're not going to spend the money to hire a private investigator to find out if you were married previously. In the US, it's actually very difficult to find out someone's marital status due to registry with the myriad county clerk offices all over the country in every state. Unless it's the FBI or some other federal agency, they'll never know and I doubt they really care. They ask because they want to know if you'll have anyone tagging along with you. You don't need to divulge your entire personal life to them since they're not coming with you and will have no impact on your job.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

You don't have a child anymore, technically - just an adult daughter.

I'd put adult, single, no dependents.

hollysuel · Joined: 07 Oct 2007 Posts: 225 Location: Connecticut, USA

I agree--'adult, single, no dependents' is the best and it is true as well!

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Do you realize that the reason they want to know marital status and number of children is that, in some cases, they want to know if you will be hauling a family around? That implies some personal baggage, and the school may or may not want to contend with that, even to the extent of explaining in an interview that housing is only big enough for one person.

Another reason is that, in Japan anyway, salaries will be higher if you have a family/spouse in tow.

As for your situation, it makes no difference if you say single or divorced. That aspect of your marital status is non sequitur. Since you don't have a child living with you, there is no need to mention them. You're single.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

True. Your birthdate says that you're an adult.

Kootvela · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 513 Location: Lithuania

Once you are divorced, I say you are single again.

Jetgirly · Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 741

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Dear Abby's ancient Very Happy

And has somewhat outdated ideas, IMO - rather like my dear, but aged parents.

SandyG20 · Joined: 12 Sep 2007 Posts: 208

However my birth certificate has maiden name, transcripts and diploma have married name - so as a female I have used more than one last name. Here in the states - applications do ask if you have ever used a different name (last name). Recruiters are asking it on applications. Passport asks it and it is in their database. I consider myself single - but I have used a maiden name - then married name. So I don't want people to think I am being untruthful.

Anyone else been in this situation? What did you put on your CV?

Ariadne · Joined: 16 Jul 2004 Posts: 960

A little off topic, but in my opinion this discussion points out rather clearly why it is unwise for women to change their names when they marry. I really don't understand why they do it.

.

mandalayroad · Joined: 11 Mar 2008 Posts: 115

Hmm... I guess the question then becomes does one's status revert back to single after a divorce or is it simply divorced forever until married again? I would hope it's the former since the term divorced still carries some stigma. I wish women wouldn't change their surname after marriage; it makes everything simpler.