10 common CV mistakes
And how to avoid them!
Look, I hate to break it but no one is perfect, we’re all human and we all make mistakes. But when it comes to your CV mistakes can be deadly… ok that’s a tad dramatic but they can and will cost you an interview.
Here’s a list of common mistakes and how to fix them.
1..Grammatical errors
Look, you’ve just got to learn your, there, they’re and theirs and your you’re and yours. It’s as simple as that!
As a hiring manager, I automatically discount any CV with grammatical errors. Without sounding like a Karen, what people need to realise is that it’s about more than that CV. If you can’t get your own CV right, how could I ever trust you to send an eDM out, or post something to the company social without making a mistake?
And to the people who say “is grammar actually that important these days?” YES, IT IS!
The fix.
Install Grammarly, it’ll literally change your life and make you sound much smarter than you actually are!
Proofread, then proof again, then get a mate to proof your CV
Read more books
2. Using the same email address you used at school
I see you catlady85@hotmail.com
Now this might seem innocent enough, and I get it, all your emails telling you about the Camilla and Marc sale go there and it’s easy to just have the same old email you’ve always had. But, this email address is loaded with bias, being…
You like cats. Cool, but what if the hirer is awfully allergic and despises cats?
1985. So you’re 37 this year, that’s cool but in the hirer’s head they were going to hire a millennial because the position is for a Social Media Manager and their bias tells them you’re simply too old.
Hotmail. Is Hotmail still a thing? This shows that you’re probably not that tech-savvy.
Cat lady. Just putting it out there, some people might think cat ladies are a bit weird and might assume things like you’re an introvert and maybe not the cultural fit they're after.
The fix.
Register a new Gmail address that uses your full name or better still try to register your name as a domain so you can use that as your email, it’ll be like owning your very own piece of real estate in the world wide web.
3. It’s too long
Our attention spans are getting shorter by the day so keep that in mind when you’re writing your CV. Use bullets, short sentences, have lots of white space, and keep it to two pages max.
Remember it’s not about showing all your cards at once, you can do that when you get the interview. Your CV should be like a Netflix trailer, just enough to leave them wanting more.
The fix.
Simple, just keep it to two pages, minimum font size 10 (for main text)
Don’t list the tasks you completed at every job, only the recent ones. For early jobs simply list the position, company, and tenure, which leads to the next one.
4. Listing your casual high school job at Macca’s
Love me some Macca’s and believe it or not I worked there too but leave it off your CV. If you’re a professional just start your experience from your first job out of University, and as above only list duties for your most recent positions.
The fix.
Remove it from your CV
Next time you see a Macca’s stop and get a cheeseburger
5. Flat out lying
Goes without saying but if it’s not true don’t put it down. We all know the saying “fake it till you make it” but on your CV it’s probably best you don’t pretend you were the CEO of an ASX100, you will be found out.
The fix.
Don’t lie
6. Listing tasks, not results
Your CV shouldn’t be a copy of your job description. It should include your responsibilities but also the results you’ve achieved related to that task.
For example, which of these is better?
Management of team workflow
Implemented Asana Project Management tool to manage team workflow, improving productivity by 18% over 6 months
The fix.
Add some meat, give tangible results concerning each responsibility you’re outlining
You manage the social strategy, what growth in engagement have you achieved?
You implemented a new project management system, what ROI have you seen?
You manage a budget, how much is it?
Lastly bold the results to make them stand out
7. Talking about yourself in the third person
It’s just so weird.
The fix.
Just don’t do it… like ever!
8. Listing your reference’s details
This is a big no-no. It shows you lack respect for that person’s time. Remember no one is calling your references just from seeing your CV. Doing a reference check is the last stage of any recruitment process.
The fix.
Leave their details off
When it’s time to give references you want to make it sound like you have a few you can use, so at that stage you should give your hirer a few options. For example a line manager and a key stakeholder or even a key supplier.
9. You don’t show your personality
If people took their CVs as seriously as they take their Bumble profiles it would be a good thing! Not saying you want to include a picture of yourself patting a drugged-up tiger or at the gym… BUT… this is your time to shine, this is your very own marketing flyer.
Do you live your life like Calibri font size 12 in black and white? Probs not… well I hope not!
The fix.
Incorporate colour… maybe two to three that you like, just don’t make it look like a Mardi Gras float
When it comes to fonts, choose one for all headings and one for the body… remember you can always bold/capitalise text to make it stand out
To pic or not to pic? In my view, if you have a nice headshot, include it as recruiters will likely stalk your Linkedin to see a pic anyway, but it’s totally up to what you’re comfortable with
10. Giving it a crappy file name like “CV_final”
*Newsflash* you’re not the only one applying for this role. If you want to piss off the hiring manager then make them have to rename your CV when they file it away.
Your job, before you get THE job, is to make that hiring manager’s life as easy as possible.
The fix.
Call your CV (which should be a PDF by the way) your first and last name, simple really
So there you have it folks, some simple tips and tricks to help you avoid making mistakes on your CV!
