6 Common CV Mistakes You Must Avoid
Your CV may need some serious attention if you’ve been sending out a lot of them and getting no response.
Beginners make a lot of mistakes on their CVs that don’t seem like a big deal at first but can have a huge impact on their chances of getting a job.
Here are the 6 most common CV mistakes you can easily bounce.
1. Spelling Mistakes and Poor Grammar
Make sure to check your CV for mistakes in spelling and grammar. Use the correct tense and stick to the third person throughout the document if you’re writing in the third person. Avoid American expressions and use spell-check. When in doubt, take help from Careers Booster, mentor, or friend to look over your CV for errors, or use spell-checking software like Grammarly.
2. A Clichéd Personal Profile
If your profile is littered with clichés, you’ll come across as someone who lacks creativity. There are a lot of CVs out there that use the phrase “I am a hard-working, driven individual, who works well both independently and in a team.” Employers are looking for more than just these qualities, so think about how you’ve developed them. Is it relevant to the job you’re applying for? It is critical to begin a CV with a short personal statement or professional bio. It should give a sense of who you are, what motivates you, and how you approach your work.
3. Making A Long CV
Nobody wants to read a book, especially when there are so many CVs to go through. The length of a CV is influenced by the position you’re applying for. An experienced candidate’s CV should be two to three pages long, while an entry-level candidate’s CV should be no longer than two pages. You shouldn’t be worried about the length of your CV, instead focus on the quality of your CV. You must highlight your skills, personality, career aspirations, and education level in your CV.
4. Poorly Formatted CV
Your CV’s formatting is one of the first things employers notice. If you ignore the finer details, it can reflect poorly on you. Recruiters spend an average of eight seconds looking over a candidate’s CV, which gives you little time to make a positive impression. Your CV should be formatted in such a way that the reader can easily find what they are looking for. Therefore, it is essential to keep your CV short and to the point so that it can be quickly digested. When composing your CV, you should use a template that is both eye-catching and uncluttered. Stay away from jarring design elements like contrasting fonts and sizes.
5. Not Tailoring Your CV To Specific Positions
Recruiters do not want to read a generic CV that is sent to dozens of employers. A tailored CV shows that you’ve done your homework and is a more effective way of showcasing your skills. It’s critical to read the job descriptions thoroughly and pay attention to keywords and phrases. You can show that you are a good fit for the company and the position by drawing attention to relevant skills you’ve learned in previous roles, even if those roles aren’t directly related to the position you’re applying for. A strong advantage is having experience in similar positions. But tailoring your CV to show how you’ve gained experience in other roles that can be utilized to the one you’re applying for is a strong move.
6. Lying Or Exaggerating the Truth
Honestly, it can be tempting to tell a lie to get your foot in the door and impress potential employers. Don’t assume that recruiters won’t verify the information on your cv, and it’s easy to do so. Faking higher grades in college or exaggerating your work experience and skills to get a better job won’t help you in the long run. Your lies will be exposed at the very least, and your CV will be immediately rejected. At the very worst, you could find yourself in an interview where you’re asked questions that you can’t answer.
