Most Common CV Mistakes

Writing up your curriculum vitae or CV can be a daunting process for many people. Some may view it as an opportunity to reflect on their professional accomplishments and to analyse the roles held within a company, others may find it tough to pick out their accomplishments and are left pondering what was their actual duties within the company. This task is of course different for everyone, depending on what type of employment you are in or the type of person you are. It would not be very comforting to think that a neurosurgeon would ever have trouble trying to consider their main duties and responsibilities in their day-to-day tasks.

Your CV is a marketing tool devised to sell “you” to your potential employer. It is possibly one of the most important documents you will ever create and it is important that it is impeccable.

I will now take you through some of the most common and obvious CV mistakes that have been noticed by numerous HR managers and employers alike. We have all been at fault I am sure at one stage or another, so whether you are currently drafting up a new CV or you are just curious as to what these mistakes may be, please read on;

1. Spelling and grammar errors are still extremely common, even with spell check. Get somebody to proof read your CV, as they may just spot something you didn’t. 50 per cent of the recruitment consultants surveyed regularly encountered this type of error.



2. Do not list references directly on your CV. Only submit them to your employer when requested. You do not want a to be faced with the situation where your potential employer rings up your current employer asking for a reference. This advice comes highly recommended trust me.



3. Incorrect contact informationcan be more common than you think. Make sure your contact number and email address is accurate. Otherwise you may be left wondering why you aren’t getting any phone calls.



4. The design and lay out of your CV is also very important. If your CV simply does not look good, you could be taking yourself out of the possibility before they even read your CV. When sending a CV online, beware of templates on Microsoft word. The format can cause them to become distorted on a different computer. Keep it simple and go for a blank template and build it up from a different template as a guide.



5. Don’t send the same CV to all employers. You should tailor each CV to suit the job application you are applying for. This means that only relevant information is present for the job specification. This will help to link your previous experience to the current job specification you are applying for.

Try and avoid these mistakes and I am sure you will find the job that you have always wanted.