Common CV mistakes are one of the major reasons as to why people lose out on job opportunities.
After months of scrolling through page after page of job adverts, when you finally find your dream job, it can be all too easy to rush in and apply straight away.
However, stop. Before you submit your application, crack out the champagne and start celebrating prematurely, you have to actually land the role first.
One of the very first stages in many applications involves sending in your CV – a one-to-two page document which highlights your experience and achievements.
Creating the perfect CV is much easier said than done though and, with employers and HR teams often sifting through hundreds of CVs for just one position. Making sure it stands out amongst a sea of other well-qualified applicants can seem like a mammoth task.
But have no fear – we’re here to help.
From formatting errors to including irrelevant information, we’re here to point out some common CV mistakes that you might not realise you’re making – starting from the top and working our way down.
1. Out-Of-Date Contact Details
The very first thing you should have on your CV is simply your name. However, it’s fairly difficult to get that wrong so let’s focus on the next thing you should include – your contact details.
Make sure both your phone number and email address are up-to-date – and that your email address is professional.
Your CV is no place for email addresses like ‘[email protected]’. While this may have been hilarious back in secondary school, the email address on your CV should only include your name.
Leave it up to your interviewer to decide whether you’re a funky girl or not.
2. Photos & Images
It may make your CV look boring but, unless you’re going for a job in a very creative industry, words are your best friend.
If you’re applying for a job in the UK, make sure you don’t include a photo of yourself – leave that for your LinkedIn page instead. Also, avoid using any logos of any kind on your CV. While you may think they’ll ‘liven up your CV’, the reality is they simply waste space.
Why not talk about the relevant stuff your future employer will actually want to read about instead?
3. Too Much Personal Information
In the UK, employers can’t discriminate against applicants based on characteristics such as age or marital status. Therefore, your CV should only present your name and contact details, before getting on to the juicy details outlining your education and professional experience.
There’s no need to include your date of birth, age, marital status, how many dependents you have, your religion or political stance. Leave that for your employer to find out at the interview.
4. Listing Experience In The Wrong Order
Each section of your CV should be written in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent experience and then working backwards in time.
To put this in practice, your education section should list your postgraduate qualifications first. Then your undergraduate qualifications, then you’re A-Levels and, finally, your GCSEs.
Of course, this may lead many of you to think: “But my most recent experience is my least relevant! I don’t want them to have to read I worked at my local pizza takeaway before they see my experience working at a fancy law firm!”
Well, there are ways around this, which we will explore in the next section. However, the rule still stands – within each section, your experience should be included in reverse chronological order.
5. Using Poor Structure & Formatting
One of the most common cv mistakes that one can make is formatting Employers enjoy nothing less than being faced with a CV that’s simply one big wall of text.
Therefore, try to break up your paragraphs and use bullet points. Not only will this make your CV less off-putting, but it will also make it much easier for a potential employer to read.
Similarly, don’t be afraid to split up your work experience section.
Say you’re applying to a role in marketing, for example. Having two sections titled ‘Marketing and Communication Experience’ and ‘Other Professional Experience’ will both make your CV easier to read and show you’ve made an effort to tailor your experience to the industry. This, in turn, will also get around the issue of needing to put everything in reverse chronological order.
6. Not Tailoring Your Experience To The Job
While it may be tempting to create a generic CV you can submit in batches to hundreds of companies, you should avoid doing this as much as possible.
The way to success is to tailor your experience to the role you’re applying for. Use the job advert to your advantage and make sure your CV covers as many of the essential skills and attributes the company is looking for.
Don’t worry if you’re new to an industry or have recently decided to reap the rewards of a career change. Regardless of your working background, most candidates should be able to demonstrate a range of broad skills, such as communication, customer service, organisation and time management.
7. Including A Long List Of Irrelevant Information
Many candidates include large chunks of text about their hobbies and interests at the end of their CV.
While some employers may enjoy hearing you love scuba diving and salsa dancing, it’s best to keep this information to a minimum.
The same goes for any additional skills and qualifications you have. Don’t just throw every single achievement you have ever attained in there for the sake of it.
If the job description says you must have a driver’s license or first aid qualification, then list it. However, if the job description doesn’t mention anything about needing any specific extra qualifications, then don’t. It’s that simple.
Final Thoughts…
Common CV mistakes are… well common.
Writing a CV can feel like an overwhelming task but it really doesn’t have to be. By simply using clear formatting and focused writing, you will already be well on your way to creating the best CV possible.
Generally, it’s easier to start by getting all the information down on paper and then cutting it back. That way, you’ll be able to quickly see which areas to remove and which sections to prioritise.
Then, when you have your perfect CV set up and ready to go, landing your dream job will be one step closer.
However, if you still feel like you need some help when any of these steps feel free to reach out and contact us.
Turns out you could need to pop that celebratory champagne after all.
Featured Photo by Burst from Pexels
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