8 Most Common CV Mistakes

When it comes to applying for a new job, your CV could be just the ticket to get you that initial foot in the door and secure an interview. In fact your CV (or Resume – depends where you are in the world) is your business card and a marketing strategy all in one.

CV Mistakes

Apart from the basic information, creating or updating your professional CV is much harder than it sounds. You need to make in sector specific, company specific and most of the time job specific. Now there are plenty of templates out there for examples, in today’s post I want to cover the dos and don’ts. Well more like the don’t’s – here is the list of 8 most common mistakes people make when creating their CV.

1. Too Little

Don’t just stick to official titles and a general job description; you need be able to give specifics for your accomplishments and the values you brought in your previous role. Make sure you emphasize concrete results, achievements and initiatives you introduced.

2. Too Much

Do you think you’re being hired because of your marital status or your beautiful children? Providing too many personal details is a big “no, no.” This section also includes irrelevant work experience like babysitting at the 8^th grade, common’ that just take space and adds no value. Sure an interesting and unique hobby might be worth sharing, to draw attention to a different side of you or some particular skills that you’ve gained – but you need to be strategic.

4. Weird Email Address

We all had a “cute” email address when we were younger. The issue is that your employer doesn’t want to see HotSweetie@yahoo.com as your email address. Instead, create a professional email address.

5. Reasons for Leaving a Past Job

Many people dedicate paragraphs of their resume to the reasons why they left their last job. Ok, ok this is an honest approach… good for you. The thing is, the employer doesn’t care about YOU right now, at this stage they care on what you can do for THEM.

6. Social Media Overdose

Yes it’s a techy and very inter-connected world and we all have a dozen of SM profiles. It might be useful to share your Instagram channel if you’re up to a creative free-spirited role, but for more office-oriented jobs don’t, just don’t. Keep your personal photos on Facebook – well… personal.   A good rule of thumb is to only add in your LinkedIn profile (complete and professional of course), and disregard your other profiles.

7. Too creative

Unless you are applying for a graphic designer position, keep your design to a reasonable level. Yes standing out from the crown is important, but create a personalized infographic with 7 different charts and 6 colors… well that’s too much. At the end of the day you want them to focus on how great you are, not how complicated it is to understand your CV.

8. Storytelling

A human connection is built on good stories, we all love them. Just not in a CV. This not the place to hone your novelist’s skills and spills elaborated stories of your life experience. The language in your resume should be short, focused and clear. Use bullets and summarize similar ideas under one example. Have too many stories? That’s great keep them for the interview!

CV mistakes? Avoid them, and it’s much more likely you’ll avoid getting the two words you don’t want to hear: “We’re sorry . . . .”

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Main: Flazingo Photos