8 Common CV Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Your CV needs to be immaculate. However, proofreading your CV takes an eye for detail and patience. If you want some tips on what are the most common CV mistakes to avoid, see our top ten list below. Some of these mistakes and errors could ruin your chance of even getting an interview. And one mistake in a CV can make a recruiter doubt your credibility.

1. Having a profile summary

A profile summary gives a quick description of your experience/skills/qualities & qualifications at a glance. This gives the employer or recruiters a quick insight into all of the aspects of your career to date and if you would suit the job on offer.

2. Spelling errors

Spelling mistakes could be the true difference of a recruiter looking at your CV or deciding not looking at all. Studies reveal that 59% of recruiters will reject a CV once they see a spelling or grammar mistake. You should always double and triple check a CV. Get fresh eyes to proofread your CV as they may see mistakes that you no longer notice.

3. Not having named projects or job titles

Two common issues are when the CV doesn’t state clearly the name of a project that you worked on and when there are no job titles.

When this happens, we cannot tell what size projects you have worked on, and what your level of experience is. Your previous roles and the levels of responsibility is essential to recruiters and employers.These elements show how much you have progressed over the years and how many years’ experience you have in different roles.

4. Not having employment history in chronological order

It’s important to have your most relevant experience at the top of your employment history. This makes it easier for recruiters to see what projects/roles you have taken part in recently. It also helps the recruiter to see if you have relevant experience and are suitable for the position which is currently on offer.

5. No hobbies or interests

Having interests and hobbies on your CV is a great ice breaker during an interview. It can also give employers an insight into what you are interested in and if you would fit in well with the employees who are already apart of the company. But of course, it all comes down to personal choice, and if you would prefer to leave out your hobbies that is perfectly fine too. If you choose to list your hobbies, don’t exaggerate. If your interviewer has the same hobby or interest, you could find yourself digging a hole to cover up your exaggeration.

6. Not including education, qualifications and years of studies

Where you attended college could help you land that job as some employers like particular courses from certain colleges. Your degree or qualification is also very important as some employers will only accept a certain level of qualification. If you have completed any add-on courses, short training programmes or extra years of study that is also important to include. Having extra courses and qualifications will sell yourself more to employers.

7. Not reading a job description properly

There is nothing more frustrating for a recruiter than to receive a good CV and then contact the candidate and speak about job location, job title and job description and the candidate says “oh that’s too far away” or “I’m not interested that particular role”.

Job descriptions are placed on job boards, websites and social platforms to try and connect with the candidates who are truly interested in the role that is on offer. If a job description says minimum 4 years previous experience or experience in a particular sector is essential, unfortunately there is no point applying for a role if you do not have the relevant experience. However, you could still send your CV to the recruiter and explain a little bit about yourself and your background and the types of roles that you are looking for.

8. Give your CV file a name

When sending your CV as a file or an attachment to recruiters or employers make sure to save your file “First name + Last Name + CV + title of role you are applying for”. We receive hundreds of CVs every day for numerous different roles so having your CV document saved as just “CV” isn’t going to help. It might seem like a very small thing, but this little change makes it easier for employers/recruiters to sort through CVs, it helps make your name stand out and become more memorable and it also shows that you put in a bit of time to tailor your CV.

Summary

CVs are still essential for the job application process. LinkedIn is growing in popularity, however, nothing beats a well written and formatted CV. You could have all the skills and experience and be the best candidate for a role, but if you’ve made careless mistakes throughout your CV it could cost you the job. If you are unsure about your current CV and work in Construction, Manufacturing, Engineering or Life Sciences, just contact us and request a CV review.

8 Common CV Mistakes and How to Fix Them