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Still not landing any interviews? Take a second look at how to write a professional CV
Your CV is the decision-maker when it comes to gaining an interview, so you need to make sure it's on point for every job application you submit. If you're failing to impress hiring managers, you may need to up your game. In the following guide, we'll take a look at seven of the most common CV mistakes that candidates make – and how you can avoid them!
1. Your opening lines are weak
Recruiters spend just a few seconds looking at your application. Therefore, if you don't hook them in from the start, chances are they'll never make it to the end. One of the biggest CV mistakes you can make is to kick things off with a bland summary or objective.
Rather than boring the recruiter with a paragraph littered with buzzwords, you should craft a personal statement – this is the brief paragraph at the top of your CV that gives recruiters an overview of your qualifications and goals. Be sure to lead with your most impressive feat – that thing that makes you stand out from the crowd. Here are some effective personal statement examples for inspiration.
Keep it short and sweet, aiming for around four sentences. Make sure the content explains who you are, what you can offer the company, and your career goals. Ensure you provide evidence where possible to really prove to the recruiter you'd be a valuable addition to the company.
Reel in that recruiter hook, line and sinker, and they'll be sure to continue reading your CV.
2. Your CV format and structure are poor
Not thinking about how to properly present yourself on paper is one of the common CV mistakes that job seekers make. In order to convey your skills and experience effectively, you need to make sure your CV format – the overall look and flow of your document – is easy to navigate and read. See our top tips for improving the look of your CV here.
Moreover, when structuring your CV sections, we recommend using the reverse chronological order. This CV structure allows recruiters to quickly assess your application against similar candidates. Start with your most recent work experience, and work your way back in time as you move down the page. It's best to keep your CV format plain.
Of course, there are exceptions to this rule. For example, if you lack work experience, you might want to go with a functional CV format instead. This approach puts your competencies front and centre, highlighting them over your lack of work experience.
3. Your CV is not skimmable
The hiring manager should be able to skim your CV for the information they need. Make their job easy for them and you instantly increase your chances of success.
Ensure the headings for your personal statement, key skills, experience, education, and hobbies are clear. Your professional CV should be no longer than two pages – recruiters really don't have the time to trawl through much more. If you have a lot of empty space on your CV, try and format it so it neatly fills the pages. This will make it look more complete and professional.
Also, bullet points will be your saviour when writing your CV skills section and experiences. Lengthy chunks of text are difficult to read, whereas bullets make your skills easier to digest.
4. You've kept it generic
It's essential to tailor your CV to every job application. While a generic CV will highlight your abilities and experience, tailoring your CV to the job description ensures the recruiter will read information relevant to the role.
For example, it's great that you've got experience working as a lifeguard, but it's probably not so relevant if you're applying for a sales role. However, if the job description states a successful candidate needs to be able to work well under pressure, you can tailor your lifeguarding job to highlight this quality.
Beat one of the biggest CV mistakes by highlighting relevant skills in your application, which will ultimately show the recruiter why you're a perfect fit and increase your chances of securing an interview.
5. You've failed to share any evidence
Your CV is the place to brag about your achievements and professional feats. However, if you're making big claims and failing to back them up at all, that's one of the worst CV mistakes you can make. You can instantly strengthen your application by adding some results-based points.
For example, you may choose to slide in some statistics or numbers that showcase your value to an employer. When you're writing your work experience and summary sections, this approach is particularly important. Avoid being vague and give the reader some concrete evidence.
6. There are spelling and grammatical errors
Having grammatical errors and spelling mistakes on your CV is extremely unprofessional. It's also an absolute disaster if a recruiter is looking for someone with “an eye for detail,” as you've just proved you don't have one.
Proofreading is essential when completing a job application, even if you're really keen to submit it immediately. Once you feel you've finished writing your CV, take some time to read over it carefully. Try reading it to yourself aloud, or getting someone else to proof it for you.
7. Your CV isn't keyword-optimised
Among the top CV mistakes we see time and time again is failing to incorporate relevant keywords and phrases.
Start by looking at the job advert and identifying what the recruiter is looking for in applicants. Look for any role-specific words in the job description and consider adding them into your CV – without overstuffing them!
It's worth showcasing your best-aligned traits and experiences on your CV. This ensures that the reader – or Applicant Tracking System (ATS) software – can immediately recognise how well you fit the vacancy.
Prepare a flawless application
Avoiding these common CV mistakes will prevent you from sabotaging your job search. Just remember to make sure your CV format is correct, proofread with a magnifying glass, and back your professional skills and achievements, and you'll be landing interviews in no time.
Let our experts help you avoid these common mistakes when writing your CV. Check out our free CV review today.
This article was originally written by Laura Slingo and has been updated by Charlotte Grainger.