25 simple CV mistakes that could prove costly

Don't make these mistakes

fizkes/Shutterstock

When it comes to job interviews, we've all heard that first impressions are key. Well, the same goes for your CV. An eye-tracking study by career site Ladders Inc. found that recruiters spend just seven seconds scanning an application. With such a small amount of time to impress, it's vital to avoid the mistakes that could cost you the chance of getting your dream job. Read on for 25 of the most common.

1. Making it too long

hareluya/Shutterstock

Given the short amount of time that a recruiter has to look over your CV, it's a good idea to keep it succinct. Most HR professionals suggest keeping it to under two pages in order to ensure it gets a proper scan. While this might sound challenging, it's actually helpful as it allows you to make sure that every sentence counts, and is really helping to sell you to potential employers.

2. Making it too short

fizkes/Shutterstock

Similarly, having a CV that's overly short isn't a good idea either. While a one-pager is often seen as being the ideal, you definitely don't want to start trimming off important bits of information in order to squeeze everything onto one page. This could mean missing out on the chance to tell your prospective employer about relevant achievements. While you might be able to impress them with this information in an interview, you have to make it to that stage first.

3. Picking the wrong design

MPFphotography

It's a good idea to make sure that your CV is designed in a way that reflects the type of job you're applying for. For example, if you're applying for a position in graphic design or the creative arts, it could work against you if your application is dull and uninspiring. In contrast, if you're applying for roles in industries such as finance or law, it's best to stick to a traditional layout.

4. Strange font choices

Lovemoney

The font you choose for your CV can also have an impact on your chances of scoring a job interview. Extravagant font options look unprofessional and make it difficult for recruiters to scan through your writing. There are some fonts that resonate particularly well. A study at Wichita State University found that people associate Times New Roman and Arial with stability, while Courier New and Georgia represent maturity.

5. Bad formatting

loveMONEY

You want recruiters to be able to read through your CV with ease, so using the right formatting is essential. Large blocks of text are very visually unappealing, and may result in busy employers not bothering to look through it at all. Make sure your CV is tidy, with short paragraphs and enough spacing between them. Bullet points can also be helpful when listing things like qualifications or results.

6. Bad use of colour

loveMONEY

Adding a splash of colour to your CV won't hurt if you're applying to jobs in the creative sector or less conventional companies. However, you should be controlled in your use of colour. Only use colours in headings, and avoid garish or hard-to-read colours such as yellow. If you're looking for jobs in more traditional firms such as banks it's a good idea to stick to black and white.

7. Errors and typos

loveMONEY

While this is an obvious one, it's so important. A CV that's littered with typos and spelling mistakes essentially tells a recruiter that you haven't taken the time to proofread your writing, and therefore you don't really care about the job. Always go over your text and check for errors, and use spell check or free tools such as Grammarly to look for grammatical mistakes. It may also be a good idea to get someone else to read over your writing to be sure you haven't missed anything.

8. Not including a personal profile

ruigsantos/Shutterstock

While you want to keep your CV succinct and avoid rambling on, you should always include a personal summary. This paragraph gives you the chance to really sell your skills and achievements, as well as tailoring your application to the specific job you're applying for. It can also help to give your potential new employers a little taste of your personality, and gives you the opportunity to stand out from other candidates.

9. Including a generic personal profile

loveMONEY

We've already established that including a personal summary is essential, but it's also important to think carefully about what to put in it. Of course, you want to sell yourself and make sure you show that you're a good fit for the role, but don't make it unoriginal. Try to avoid clichéd phrases that every other candidate will use such as 'self-motivated' and 'results-driven', and instead focus on being genuine and talking about what you can offer and what you're looking for.

10. Writing in the third person

loveMONEY

Writing in the third person may seem like a creative way to make your CV stand out, but it's not a good idea. Your CV is your opportunity to communicate with potential employers, so writing it in the third person makes it hard to really connect with them. It can also give them the wrong impression of who you are as a person, as it can often come across as rather egotistical.

11. Poor choice of language

loveMONEY

Pay close attention to your choice of words and phrases when writing your CV. Avoid using words and phrases that sound negative, and instead put a more positive spin on things (without lying of course!). You should also use simple language that makes it easy for the recruiter to read through and understand everything quickly, and avoid being too informal by using slang words.

12. Outdated information

loveMONEY

Having stale information is a good way to ensure you leave recruiters unimpressed. You should read through your CV every time you apply for a job, just to check that everything is up to date. This is particularly important when it comes to things like your most recent job or work experience and any qualifications you've recently achieved. Contact details are another vital thing to keep up to date, to make it as easy as possible for recruiters to get in touch.

13. Not tailoring for each position

kathayut kongmanee/Shutterstock

If you're applying for several jobs it might be tempting to just fire off the same CV to all of them. However, it'll give you a much better chance of securing an interview if you customise it each time. Indeed, 63% of recruiters said this is something they definitely want from job candidates in a survey by Careerbuilder. Today, many companies perform an initial electronic review, so it's important to go through the job description and ensure you've included any keywords mentioned.

14. Telling lies

fizkes/Shutterstock

Three out of four recruiters have found a lie on a CV, according to a study from CareerBuilder. The most frequent included lying about qualifications, job titles, and employment dates. However, while it may be common, it's definitely a mistake to avoid. Not only is it unethical, but if you get caught out it will undoubtedly hinder your chances of making it to interview. And if you were to get the position and the company finds out you weren't being truthful it could ultimately cost you your new job.

15. Exaggerating your skills

fizkes/Shutterstock

Describing yourself as the "best salesperson in the country" or something similar is never a good addition to your CV. These sort of statements not only make you seem rather arrogant or lack integrity, they're also just a bit embarrassing and a sure way to convince recruiters to add you to the 'no' pile. Instead, use real examples, that can be backed up, to impress your potential employer.

16. Not mentioning specific results

loveMONEY

When you're writing about your previous experience, the more specific you are the better. Employers want to see exactly what you've achieved in order to assess your potential. Instead of simply listing off your job responsibilities, aim to provide quantifiable results that you were solely or partly responsible for. This might include things like return on investment, number of new customers, sales figures, efficiency savings or any awards or press accolades.

17. Including the wrong interests/hobbies

Antonio Guillem/Shutterstock

If you have hobbies and interests listed in your CV, you should ensure that they're not likely to offend or alienate potential employers. Avoid including generic interests that are plain or almost everyone has; this section is a good chance to show your personality, don't waste it! Less common, quirky interests not only show that you're a well-rounded and interesting person, they can also endear you to the recruiter if you have something in common.

18. Not filling in gaps

LoveMoney.com

All the jobs you've listed on your CV need accurate dates, and you should avoid leaving any gaps unexplained as this is an immediate red flag for recruiters. It can signal that you're unreliable or easily bored. Whether you took time out for travelling, illness, maternity leave, a gap year, or just for some time to yourself, make sure you explain this clearly and honestly. If you were to make it to interview stage, it's very likely that the employer would ask you about it anyway.

19. Leaving off helpful information

loveMONEY

While you don't want to include a whole load of irrelevant information in your CV, you also want to make sure you don't leave out anything that could potentially help with your application. Many people think it's not a good idea to add the jobs they had while at university, for example. However these types of jobs are often great for gaining soft skills such as teamwork and empathy, and a study by Wonderlic revealed that 93% of recruiters consider soft skills "essential" or "very important".

20. Making it too technical

fizkes/Shutterstock

Bear in mind that the person who gives your application its initial readthrough may not necessarily have knowledge in your specific job area, or be familiar with complicated industry terms. Therefore, you should try to make sure that you avoid using too much technical jargon. When listing your previous work experience it may also be helpful to explain what each company is. They may be well known to your contemporaries, but a recruiter might not know why working for them is impressive.

21. Including a headshot

Lisa-S/Shutterstock

While including a headshot on your CV is standard in some parts of the world such as the UAE, continental Europe and most of Asia, in other places it's not needed. In fact recruiters may well reject your application if it includes a photo. Unless you're an actor it's best to leave the headshot, it'll just make potential employers think you're egotistical or don't have a good grasp of workplace professionalism.

22. Using an unprofessional email address

loveMONEY

Most of us have made a quirky email address at some point, but it's not a good idea to use it for work purposes. Your potential employers are unlikely to care that your email address is super-original or funny; they'll be more interested in seeing that you understand the importance of professionalism.

23. Poor choice of file name

loveMONEY

When the time comes to send your CV, be sure to use a polished and positive file name. Your potential employer will be able to see the file name in the attachments, so if it's something like 'CV_first_draft' or 'cv-template', it can have a negative impact on their overall impression of you. Show that you're detail-orientated enough to have given the file a suitable and professional-looking name.

24. Not being cautious with social media

CHAjAMP/Shutterstock

Some recruitment experts advise including your social media links as a way to add another layer of depth to your application, providing more transparency in allowing potential employers to get to know you. However, if you do choose to add these links, make sure there's nothing that portrays you in a bad light. Take the time to go through your pages and ensure there's nothing incriminating or embarrassing, and if need be change your privacy settings.

25. Not sending a cover letter

Stokkete/Shutterstock

While you should aim to make your CV as complete as possible, you still need to add a cover letter for each application. It may seem like wasted effort, but avoiding it is definitely a mistake; 45% of recruiters will automatically discard an application if it doesn't come with a cover letter, according to Careerbuilder. Not only that, but it's your chance to go into more depth about your skills and experiences, and to show a little more of the 'real' you.

Now take a look at some online interview tips from an expert

Or discover jobs that no longer exist