top 10 cv mistakes

CV / Resume Mistakes

1. Including Photographs with your CV.
   • Some people think that by including a photograph that this will enhance your CV/Resume. This is not always the case as some employers may judge you on what you are wearing in the photograph, your smile etc. Thus, you should not include a photograph unless the employer asks for one.
2. Academic details
   • Sometimes people make the mistake of listing all of their previous academic qualifications in the past 10 years or more and stating all the grades, this is not a good idea. Mainly because if you have vasts amounts of work experience then most employers are not interested in your specific qualifications. You should just briefly discuss your most recent qualification and list older ones. The only situation where it would be necessary to list all academic qualifications is if you are a graduate or someone with little work experience.
3. CV/Resume is too long
   • Numerous people make the mistake of creating a CV/Resume that is far too long. By having a CV/Resume that it is too long it discourages the employer to read all of it therefore, they will not discover the skills and qualities that you have. It is essential that you keep your CV/Resume to a maximum of two pages.
4. Hobbies/Interests details
   • It is important to remember in this section that you do not want to write the same thing that everyone else writes (e.g. Listening to music, socializing, reading). All this does is take up space which you could be utilizing in more valuable ways, such as, stating hobbies that are original. By doing so it sells yourself more and makes you stand out from other applicants.
5. Using industry specific jargon
   • Some people feel the need to include industry specific jargon within there CV/Resume. This is not always a good idea because the person that is reading it may not fully understand what you mean and will inevitably not read the rest of your CV/Resume.
6. Unnecessary information
   • It is vital that you do not include irrelevant information about yourself because all this does is use up more space. You must keep all information relevant to the job or position you are applying for.
7. Employment details
   • When writing about previous work experience do not include the addresses of every employer just state the company name, position held, duties and achievements.
8. Lying or being dishonest
   • In some cases enhancing your CV/Resume subtly by making it sound better than it actually is, may increase the chances of you getting shortlisted. However, if you include blatant lies then this can be a serious mistake when it comes to the interviewing stage and the employer catches you out.
9. Layout of CV/Resume
   • It is vital that you have an easy to read CV/Resume that is well designed in terms of the layout of the text. For instance, you should not have long paragraphs of writing. This discourages the employer to read it and takes up more of their time which they may not appreciate. Most employers just want to scan through your CV/Resume and pick out the key points, therefore, you should adopt to using some bullet points which will inevitably make it easier to read for the employer.
10. Using the same CV/Resume for every job
    • Many people make the mistake of having one CV/Resume and submitting it to every different kind of job and employer. This will not work especially if you are applying for a wide variety of jobs. You must alter some aspects of your CV/Resume to suit the job that you are applying for.

Now that you know what not to do, please read what we consider CV essentials, or get started on your own CV now.

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