Six common CV errors

If you want to secure your dream job, a strong CV is vital.

But mistakes are common – here we look at the six biggest CV turn offs for employers.  

1. Typos, spelling mistakes and grammatical errors

Although it may sound obvious, you would be surprised how many CVs we receive containing spelling mistakes and other basic grammatical errors. Although they may not be the end of the world, they are avoidable and imply carelessness – not an impression anyone would want to give to a potential employer.

2. Lack of specifics

When an employer looks at your CV, they need to know exactly what you have achieved in your previous roles and how this is relevant. So, if you were responsible for driving growth in a business, say exactly how you did it and go into specifics on the results achieved.

If you want to secure your dream job, a strong CV is vital. But mistakes are common – here we look at the six biggest CV turn offs for employers.  

It is a particularly good ideal to include exact dates you have held roles for within the same company, any markets or product exposure and who your internal and/or external stakeholders/clients are. Detailing projects or initiatives you have been involved in alongside your business-as-usual role will also add significant value to your CV.

3. Long sentences and over-elaboration

If you use excessively long words and over-elaborate sentences on your CV, you risk overshadowing your actual achievements. Use bullet points as they add structure, clarity and give recruiting managers the information they want in an easily digestible format.

4. Photographs, images, colour paper and fancy fonts

We have noticed an increasing tendency for candidates to ‘jazz’ their CVs up by including photographs of themselves, fancy fonts and colour. While some may think this will make their CVs stand out, what it really does is imply style over substance.

5. Incorrect contact information

Again it may sound obvious, but people are constantly switching phone numbers and moving home and it’s not unheard of for candidates to forget to change these details on their CVs. Nothing is more frustrating for a recruiter than when they have an amazing CV in front of them but are physically unable to get hold of the person concerned.

6. Attempting a ‘one size fits all’ CV

Employers that receive generic, ‘one size fits all’ CVs generally discard them. Most recruiting managers look for tailored CVs explaining exactly why – in terms of achievements and accomplishments in previous roles – that the person is appropriate for the role.