Employers look at CVs for an average of seven seconds. This means you have a small window of opportunity to make an impression. Continue reading to find out if you could be guilty of these 10 common CV mistakes.
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Imagine this.
You just got the job of your dreams. The thought of going to work each day makes you excited and energized. Why? Because you have a great relationship with your coworkers. You always have fun at work and perform well in your current position. It doesn’t stop there. Your manager rewards you for your outstanding results, and to top it all, he/she supports your career growth.
Now you are in your car heading to work while singing along to the 2013 smashing hit song by Drake, “Started from the bottom now we here.”
Awesome, isn’t it?
True to Drake’s lyrics, it does really start from the bottom. To show you how, let’s rewind a little bit.
Before landing your dream job, you must first apply for it using your CV. Pretty obvious, right? Well, that’s where it all starts. Your CV is a written presentation of your professional and academic background, including any awards or recognition you've received.
That being said, you can’t afford to ruin the chance of getting your dream job by having common CV mistakes. On the contrary, you want the hiring manager to have a positive impression of you when they receive your CV.
What are some of the common CV blunders, and how do you avoid them, you ask? Continue reading to find out if you could be guilty of these common CV mistakes.
1. Poor formatting
Fact. Employers look at CVs for an average of seven seconds. The quick scan is to determine if the CV is easily readable, clean, and professional. This means you have a small window of opportunity to make an impression. Here's what you need to do to make an immediate impact:
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Bolden your headlines to make them more prominent
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Consider using fonts such as Times New Roman, Arial, Bell MT, or Georgie
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Stick to a single font to avoid antagonizing the reader halfway through.
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Take care not to mix up the font sizes. It is recommended to sizing up to a 10 or 11.
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Leave a considerable amount of white space
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Use bullet points
Employers are put off by a CV that is difficult to read or understand. It may give the impression that you lack attention to detail, harming your credibility. Therefore, it is essential to keep your CV short and to the point so that it can be swiftly digested.
2. Use of unprofessional email addresses
Listen. It’s 2022. You can't go around sending your CV to employers using an email address such as [email protected] or [email protected]. It instantly damages your application because it makes you look unprofessional and arrogant. It simply doesn’t cut it.
If you are using such an email address, you should change your email address to something more professional. Opt for an email address with your first and last name or a variation of it.
3. Grammatical and spelling errors
Let’s face it. Most of us are guilty when it comes to grammatical errors. They are all too common. Even seasoned novelists can attest that spotting your own grammatical and spelling errors is hard.
But that doesn’t mean your prospective employer will spare you for committing this crime.
Don’t let grammatical errors stand between you and your dream job. Ensure that you proofread your CV more than thrice before submitting it. Alternatively, you can read it aloud or give someone else, preferably a career coach, friend, or family member to proofread it for you. With a new set of eyes, they'll be able to identify mistakes you might have missed.
4. Excessive disclosure of information
Recruiters often get tons of CVs after a job posting. They have to work to tight deadlines to find the perfect fit to fill the vacant post. As such, if your CV is more than three pages long and contains all of your personal details and work history, it will be unappealing to the reader.
The climate has shifted. Only include material relevant to the position you are applying for on your CV. Including every single thing you've ever done isn't necessary.
5. Ignoring relevant keywords from the job description
Avoid describing yourself in terms that don't match the position you're applying for. In order to find your desired job, your resume should contain the same keywords that appear in the job description. It is highly unlikely that your CV will be seen if it lacks the correct keywords because you will not appear to be a suitable candidate.
6. Using clichés
Take a quick look at your CV. Have you used any of the following phrases to describe yourself? “I work well under pressure”, “a great team player,” “I can work independently,” “Results-driven,” “a fast learner,” or “I am a problem solver?” If your answer is yes, I have bad news for you.
Ready?
These expressions are extremely exhausted and have become clichés par excellence. Let them rest!
Replacing any of these overused clichés with actual instances of your expertise in action or the attributes they are searching for is a better strategy. Show that you can quickly pick up new concepts while starting a new job rather than simply saying, "I am a fast learner."
7. Adding your photograph or not
Is it a good idea to include a picture of yourself on your CV?
Using a photo isn't always a bad idea. However, there's no need to go overboard. Don’t fill it on a whole page. Put it as a header but only on the first page. Some people make the mistake of putting the picture on all the CV pages. You’ll only come off as annoying.
Another downside is, the people receiving it may have an unintentional bias against you if they don't fit a picture they have in their mind of you.
Regardless of how well you’ve parsed your CV, the above options are definitely against you. It isn’t mandatory to have a picture of yourself in a CV unless requested.
8. Taking a lie for a ride
In an interview with Scott Jones, the managing director of Illustrate Digital, he remarked, "It's necessary to be confident, but don't lie or oversell yourself."
More than a third of people admit to lying on their CVs. That's a startling figure. Unfortunately, any misleading claims on your CV are likely to be discovered. To be on the safe side, just don’t do it. You risk losing your integrity and credibility.
9. Ignoring employment gaps
It's okay to have a few weeks between jobs. But if it's been more than a couple of months, you should be able to voice why you've been unemployed. Prospective employers will view long absences as a red flag and assume you've been idle throughout that time if you don't explain.
Simply inform the recruiter why you had taken time off employment. It could be due to personal health or mental issues, a job change, or even a family crisis.
10. Adding references
Another common CV mistake is devoting a whole section to references, which is unnecessary. It's an ancient technique that takes up valuable space on your resume, which might instead be used to highlight your achievements.
Only include references if they are explicitly stated in the job description. Attaching a separate list at the end of your application is the easiest way to go about it.
Conclusion
So, how many of these common CV mistakes are you guilty of? Let us know in the comment section below.
We recommend you take a step ahead and fix your CV if they contain any of the aforementioned blunders. It will help you stand out to potential employers in the competitive nature of the job market.
