How to cock-up your CV
If you are struggling with your job search there is a good chance that its your CV that is letting you down. Your CV is all an employer has to build a first impression of you, so just one mistake can seriously damage your chance of landing job interviews. We have compiled a list of the 10 most common CV mistakes that lead to rejections so read and learn…
Not tailoring your CV
Your CV must be targeted to appeal for the vacancies you are applying for. Not tailoring your CV is the most damaging mistake that you can make when applying for a job. If you only address one mistake on your CV – make this the one. When an employer reads your CV the fact is they want to understand whether you can do their job or not. If your CV doesn’t include the skills and knowledge your target employer is looking for – you won’t get an interview.
Stating wild unproven claims
“I’m the best Salesman in Europe” or “I’m the most successful Project Manager in the industry”, statements like this make you look like a wally. Writing these sort of phrases on your CV may secure you a place on The Apprentice but they just look a bit embarrassing in the real world. Use facts and real examples of your success to prove your value to employers whilst remaining humble.
Having a silly email address
When you’re trying to impress and appear credible it’s a big mistake to brand the top of your CV with something like nuttygirl2001@hotmail.com. It looks hugely unprofessional and will have employers questioning your judgement and general approach to work. If you do have an email address that seemed really cool when you created it but now leaves you slightly embarrassed set up a separate professional email address for your job hunting mail.
Adding reasons for leaving
Employers don’t need to see the reasons you left every job on your CV. Your CV should be solely focused on attracting employers by selling your talents. You will need to convey your motivation for leaving your current/last role and looking for a new job but you can explain this briefly in your cover letter. A little tip here is never to put “to further my career” if you have left your job without a new job to go to – this makes you look like a berk!
Making salary demands
The purpose of a CV is to secure an interview by demonstrating your suitability for the role you are applying for – money does not come into the equation at this stage. There is also a good reason for holding your cards close to your chest when it comes to salary. If you want to secure the highest possible salary and the Company are prepared to pay up to £40K and you’ve already told them you want £35K then you have made it very difficult to negotiate higher. Making salary demands before you have even been for an interview is also very rude.
Your current/last role does not have enough detail
Your most recent role is one of the most important factors on your CV. After giving your CV the quick once over an employer will jump straight to your current/last job and study it in detail. The reason for this is that your most recent role gives employers the greatest indication of what you are capable of. So some serious time and effort in writing your job description, it will pay off in the long run.
Your CV is too long and boring
A seven page CV is not going to be read by an employer – they just don’t have the time when dealing with scores of applications. Keep your CV to as close to two pages as possible and make your points short and sharp to ensure that you are communicating the important information quickly and creating a high impact CV.
Putting your roles in the right order
The jobs you have held should be listed in reverse chronological order, this means that you start with your current/last role at the top and work your way backwards. The reason for this is that recruiters want to know what your current abilities are and they will study your current/last role in great detail to find out. Employers are not hugely interested in the positions you held 5 or 10 years ago as you’ve probably progressed quite a lot since then. Not doing this is quiet a clanger so ensure you don’t do it.
Unexplained gaps in your CV
Sometimes there will be gaps in your employment, it’s a fairly common occurrence for people to have time out of work. But if you leave a big gap in your work history without explaining it you will worry employers. It gives the impression that you haven’t done anything for that period. Don’t be afraid to write about time out travelling or completing personal projects when writing your CV. It’s better to show that you’ve been doing something constructive rather than nothing at all.
Grammar and spelling mistakes
Strong candidates will be expected to have good written communication skills so grammar and spelling mistakes can seriously harm your credibility. Proof read your CV to check for mistakes. Automatic spell checkers come as standard with most IT packages so you really shouldn’t have incorrect spelt words on your CV. No one wants to employ someone sloppy, so get your act together.
So to conclude there are a number of mistakes to avoid when writing your CV which can cause a range of negative effects on your job applications. Don’t let your CV stand out for all the wrong reasons, get it right and you will quickly get a job.
Good Luck!
Angela Burton