Lauren Settembrino 
Writing your CV? These are the worst things you can do
Show your uniqueness, but remain professional; make your document aesthetically pleasing, but keep it simple; brag about yourself, but stay genuine. CV writing is all about balance. Each element is essential, but tip too far in one direction and your candidacy may finish before it can even begin.
As you walk the CV tightrope, there are services to guide you - such as TopCV's free review that offers objective feedback on your CV. In our years of reviewing documents, we've noticed trends of the most common ‒ and most damaging ‒ CV errors. These are some of the worst things that job seekers include on their CVs and why they are hurting your job search.
"Objective: To obtain a job in (field) that will allow me to leverage my skills in a rewarding manner."
These types of personal statements do nothing to help you. In fact, they cost you an opportunity to make your case to HR managers. When you talk about your objective, you're describing exactly that: your goals. Unfortunately, HR managers aren't interested in what you're hoping to achieve; they have a job to do ‒ a position to fill ‒ and their primary focus will be on finding a candidate qualified to execute the needs of the role.
Instead of structuring a personal statement on your CV around your own objective, use the space to outline what you can offer the company. Craft a powerful overview of you as a professional, outlining who you are and why you're qualified, and featuring a detailed highlight or two from your experience that demonstrates your abilities.
"I possess 7 years of (field) experience, where I have worked with clients in (industries)."
When writing a CV, there's often discussion on whether it's best to write in first person ("I" and "my") or third person ("he," "she," and "they"). In fact, your best approach is to eliminate pronouns altogether by using the absent first person. It's as simple as taking a statement as written and omitting the pronouns, so that it starts with the verb:
First person: I increased organic revenue by 15% YoY.
Absent first person: Increased organic revenue by 15% YoY.
The latter example is much more concise, plus you avoid having to repeat yourself with "I did this" and "I did that." The pronouns are implied because, after all, this is your CV.
Graphics that illustrate your skill proficiencies
A skills bar chart that is 75% full, four of five bubbles filled in, a pie chart that is 90% complete ‒ these are all trendy CV graphics that job seekers employ to present their expertise with certain subjects and tools. These images may be visually pleasing, but they are actually detrimental to your CV's success.
CV-scanning software - called applicant tracking systems (ATS) - have become increasingly popular, with 98% of large organisations using them in their recruitment processes. This technology can rank CVs based on a search for certain keywords. Your CV's success is dependent on its ability to be read accurately by an ATS, and this software cannot read charts, images, and other graphics. If you try to get too fancy with your CV design, there's a chance that important information will be lost.
Related: Beat the bots: 6 tips for writing an ATS-friendly CV
"Ambitious, team-spirited, collaborative, hard-working, honest professional seeking..."
Phew ‒ what a mouthful. And yet, nothing was truly said. There is a whole lexicon of CV buzzwords, but the fact of the matter is that they aren't effective.
Buzzwords (different from the ATS-loved keywords mentioned above) are popular terms that job seekers turn to because they sound impressive. Unfortunately, to an HR manager, they are fluffy, vague statements that don't hold real substance. Think about it: The idea of being a "motivated leader" is nice, but an HR manager won't take your word for it ‒ they need to see those qualities demonstrated in your work history.
Rather than fall back on empty buzzwords, leverage strong action verbs like "improved," "facilitated," "organised," and "led" that are both more impactful and give a clearer demonstration of what you have accomplished.
Striking the right balance on your CV isn't easy, but it is possible. To ensure that you're avoiding these common pitfalls, take advantage of TopCV's free CV review today. Our feedback will show you where your CV stands, so you can be better equipped for your job search.