Top 10 CV Mistakes to Avoid

When it comes to your CV you have very limited space and time to convey your absolute fabulousness.

That’s why it’s so important to avoid these common errors and ensure a busy recruiter keeps reading – and isn’t tempted to roll your precious application into a paper basketball.

1. Get the basics right

There’s nothing more eye rolling for a recruiter than seeing their name misspelt. It’s a fail-safe way of ensuring a potential employer is annoyed with you from the very beginning. Make triple sure the name and title are correct. Call and check if you’re in doubt.

2. One size doesn’t fit all

Firing out a standard CV to every application you submit just isn’t cricket. Whether it’s a Team Leader or a Customer Sales Advisor, you need to read the job description and ensure your CV lays out why you’re the perfect candidate for this specific role.

3. Jilt the jargon

When talking about skills and experience don’t waste space on empty statements such as “being a blue-sky thinker” or having a “can-do attitude”. Focus on specific achievements in previous jobs.

4. Lose the mugshot

What is this, a dating app? There’s no good reason to include a photograph. It’s more likely to put off a potential employer as a badly taken shot can look amateurish. Alternatively, a cracking photo shows you take yourself far too seriously.

5. Don’t write a novel

Your CV should fit on to two A4 pages. Use more of the space for your more recent roles. Slash the full references, salary details and reasons for leaving previous jobs and save them for the interview.

6. Keep your hobbies

Ditto is the advice for your hobbies and pastimes. Oh really, you enjoy socialising with friends and eating out! Who knew?

7. It’s the little things

Make sure your email address is appropriate. Applications from hotstuff88 and lambrini_girl are not doing you any favours. Same goes for the CV file name. Saving it as CV6 or “improvedCV” looks lame.

8. Check the format

Now your CV is just bursting with wonderful information, make sure it can be opened without a fuss. If your attached document is harder to open than your Gran’s jam jar, your new boss might give up. Stick with Word doc or a PDF.

9. Before you go go

Don’t rely on a spell-check to pick up howlers. Take a break and re-read with fresh eyes. Using a word twice or the wrong word will not be spotted by a computer so do it yourself. Have someone read it over for you as well – someone you know is good at spelling and grammar.

10. To me, to you

Make sure you send a copy of your tweaked-for-the-job CV to yourself so when you receive that call to interview, you’re all on the same page.

Is your CV ready? Use it to find top jobs with jobs24.com.

Posted on August 23, 2017