Should I Include Previous Employer Names in a Name-Blind Civil Service CV?

Hello,

I am completing a name-blind Civil Service application and the only CV section is called Employment History.

I understand that I should remove my name and personal contact details, but I am unsure whether I should also remove the names of my previous employers. Some online advice says to anonymise everything, while other examples include the organisation names.

If I leave the employers out, the history may be difficult to understand. If I include them, I am worried that the application could be rejected for breaking the name-blind rules.

What should I enter in the Employment History section, and when would it be safer to use a generic description of the employer instead?

Quick Answer

Name-blind recruitment normally focuses on removing information that directly identifies you, not automatically every organisation you have worked for. However, the live vacancy and form instructions control, so remove employer names if the campaign specifically tells you to do so.

Read our guide to applying for a Civil Service job for the relevant process, checks and practical guidance.

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Continue reading to see which instructions I would check, when I would keep employer names and how I would preserve useful context if the organisation needs to be anonymised.

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