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Your CV is often your first chance to make a strong impression on potential employers. It’s not just a summary of your skills and experience; it’s a marketing tool designed to showcase your suitability for a role. Yet, many candidates miss out on opportunities because of avoidable errors. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or stepping into the job market for the first time, avoiding these common CV mistakes can help ensure your application stands out for all the right reasons.
Spelling and Grammar Errors: The Silent Career Killer
First impressions matter, and a CV riddled with spelling or grammatical errors can tarnish your image before you’ve even had the chance to speak. Mistakes of this nature can suggest a lack of attention to detail or professionalism—qualities that no employer wants to see in a potential hire.
How to Avoid It:
Use tools like Grammarly or Microsoft Word’s spellcheck to catch basic mistakes.
Print out your CV to identify errors that might be harder to spot on-screen.
Ask a trusted friend or mentor to proofread your CV for a fresh perspective.
One-Size-Fits-All CVs: The Shortcut That Falls Short
Sending the same CV for every application might save time, but it often fails to make an impact. Recruiters are looking for candidates whose skills and experience align with the specific requirements of the role. A generic CV rarely hits the mark.
How to Avoid It:
Tailor your CV to each role by highlighting relevant skills and achievements.
Incorporate keywords directly from the job description to show alignment.
Keep a master CV and refine it for each application, focusing on the most applicable details.
Including Irrelevant Information
Your CV should tell a clear, concise story about why you’re the right person for the job. Including unrelated jobs, outdated qualifications, or unnecessary personal details can distract from your main message and make your CV harder to navigate.
How to Avoid It:
Focus on roles, skills, and accomplishments that align with the job you’re applying for.
Exclude details like hobbies unless they directly demonstrate job-relevant skills.
Avoid listing personal information like marital status or your full address—this is no longer required.
Listing Duties Instead of Achievements
While it’s essential to outline your responsibilities, simply stating what you did in previous roles isn’t enough. Recruiters want to see evidence of how you added value and made an impact in your past positions.
How to Avoid It:
Frame your accomplishments with quantifiable data, e.g., "Increased sales by 30% within six months."
Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure examples of your achievements.
Emphasise problem-solving, leadership, or collaboration skills with concrete results to back them up.
Poor Formatting: Style Over Substance
Even if your CV content is strong, poor formatting can let you down. A cluttered or inconsistent layout makes it harder for recruiters to find the key information they’re looking for, and a visually unappealing CV might give the impression of a lack of effort.
How to Avoid It:
Use a clean, professional format with clear headings and consistent fonts.
Stick to two pages unless you’re applying for a role that requires extensive experience.
Use bullet points to break down information and ensure readability.
Final Checks Before You Hit Send
Before you submit your CV, take a moment to review it with a critical eye:
Is your contact information accurate and up-to-date?
Have you incorporated relevant keywords and tailored the CV to the job?
Is your CV free of jargon, typos, and formatting inconsistencies?
These small steps can have a significant impact on how your application is received.
Your CV is your ticket to securing an interview and making a lasting impression. By avoiding common mistakes and focusing on clarity, relevance, and impact, you can significantly improve your chances of standing out in today’s competitive job market.
At Platform Recruitment, we’re here to support you throughout your job search journey. If you’re looking for roles in tech or engineering, we are here to connect talented candidates with their ideal opportunities. We've been developing our expertise for over 12 years, making us a leading recruitment agency based in North London.
We currently have clients with live roles, looking for exciting new talent to join their team – contact us now to find out more and see which opportunities we have for you in Software Development, DevOps, Mechanical, Hardware & Electronics, Life Sciences, Data Science, Manufacturing, QA and Engineering – as well as management, operations and support function roles.