Common CV mistakes that must stop in 2020
2019 is coming to an end. Google is full of articles on the top tips to writing your CV like a pro. Those articles provide a useful list of examples of Do’s and Don’ts, explaining how to make your CV stand out from the crowd. However, we still spot silly mistakes that make your CV less attractive to recruiters. We have gathered the mistakes that cannot survive New Year’s eve.
Not understanding that your CV is a marketing document
Your CV is a marketing document. It is an ad. You are sending a CV with a goal: getting an interview.
With this in mind, it becomes clear that your CV must be clear, straight to the point and resonate with the person who will receive it. You also need to understand that people’s attention span is extremely limited. 99% of the time, nobody will spend more than 30s on your resume. If your CV is too long, too complicated to read, too different from “standard” CVs, you are highly decreasing your chances of success.
Taking the first online template
Templates are good to help you kick start writing your CV. That said, you should avoid online CV builders such as Europass. They will generally leave a watermark on it, which looks extremely unprofessional. Again your CV is your marketing document.
If you don’t know where to start from, here is a CV template we prepared.
Not checking the do’s and don’ts by country
If you apply for a job in another country, be sure your CV complies with its protocol. In France, it is fine to include a picture, your date of birth, and even your nationality, but the CV mustn’t exceed one page.
On the other hand, in the United Kingdom, it’s unusual to include a picture. Do your researches about the specific rules in place in the country you want to work in and be sure to make a great first impression.
Formatting mistakes
You should be consistent with the way you format your CV. It should be easy for the reviewer to grasp where you worked, when, your positions etc…
Consistent formatting helps the reviewer to read your CV quickly. This is what you want. Usually, the bullet-point format is better. It’s easier to read. It’s easier to understand the key points. Again, it’s important to understand that your CV, will be CV #900 to be reviewed.
You can use different fonts across your CV, but again be consistent. Titles should be formatted the same way, content should be formatted the same way, experience locations should be at the same place etc…
Consistent wording
Content should also follow the same rules. Under the experience section, it is generally a good idea to start all bullet points with an action word (“Performed”, “Managed”, “Lead”, “Wrote”…). It will give more dynamism to your CV and will convey a sense of ownership.
Not making sure your CV is understandable
The person who will read your CV must be able to understand your skills, your experience, your goals. If you decide to use icons, use simple ones. Be careful with the graphs, percentages, points systems etc. supposedly representing your skills. What does 3 out of 6 points in German, or 60% of Spanish means in reality? Clear wording will ensure your skills are not overrated nor underestimated.
Don’t lie
You shouldn’t lie on your CV. Most people would oversell themselves. It is usually obvious. Best case scenario, the reviewer will have a quick laugh and reject your application.
Generally speaking, you need to be in the position to back-up anything that is on your CV. If you lie about something and get a question, chances are it will show immediately that you did not tell the truth.
(this includes languages and your levels).
Overexplaining irrelevant experience for the job
You may be a graduate freshly joining the job market or an experienced candidate, either way, it is crucial to prioritise the information included on your CV properly. Try to minimise or exclude information not essential for the role you are applying too. Instead, focus on the education and experience that truly matters for the position.
Neglecting the proofreading
Yet again! Nobody is protected from spelling mistakes but those are avoidable. Ask different people to read your document, triple check your contact information. Look for any typos. Too often candidates give a wrong contact number or an invalid email address. This proofreading can help to spot formatting mistakes too.
Overall the perfect CV does not exist, nor does the perfect job nor the perfect candidate, but the CV allows you to give the perfect impression of yourself. Do not neglect it, read different articles about how to write a CV, ask your entourage, use your imagination and creativity. Now proofread your CV one last time and good luck!
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