There are plenty of Curriculum Vitae (CV) mistakes that many graduates make, which don’t seem like a big deal at the time, but can majorly reduce your chances of getting the job.
Six (6) Mistakes to avoid when writing your CV
Here are just a few of the most common CV mistakes you must avoid;
1. Spelling errors and bad grammar
Spelling mistakes and bad grammar still so common, The best thing to do is to read it again before printing or print out your CV and read it before sending. You advised putting your CV application through a spell and grammar checker like Grammarly.
2. Exaggerating the truth
It’s important to be confident and sure about who you are and what you have to offer, but don’t exaggerate the truth to oversell yourself. Be real about what you know, what you have to offer and what you’re still keen to learn. Don’t forget that skills can always be taught. Exaggerating the truth might make your CV look a bit better, it will show in an interview if you can’t back your skill levels up when questioned.
3. Poor CV formatting
Poor formatting of your Curriculum Vitae (CV) is one of the first things HR or your employer notice when looking at your CV. It always reflect badly on you, as it looks like you do not pay close attention to detail. So make sure that your CV layout is looking perfect as possible.
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4. Providing unoriginal personal profile
If your personal profile is full of clichés, you’re going to look like someone who doesn’t have original ideas.
Bell (Manager of certain company) said: “You’d be surprised by how many CVs we’ve read which use the sentence ‘I’m a hard-working, driven individual, who works well independently and as part of a team.’
“Although, these are great qualities to have, we’re looking for you to expand on this, think how have you gained these skills? How does it relate to the position you’re applying for?”
Personal profile should give an idea to a prospective employer of the type of person you are, your work ethic, values and what motivates you.
5. Making too long CV
Don’t make your CV too long because nobody wants to read a book especially when there are so many to go through but you advised to focus on the quality of your CV rather than quantity. Most of experienced person’s CV tend to be with two to three pages, whereas someone less experienced should have maximum of two pages.
When writing a CV you have to highlight your skills, personality, career aspirations and education level.
6. Putting the wrong contact information
Making mistakes about your contact details is a common mistake that can be detrimental to your job search.
You can often have an applicant who looks like a great fit on paper, but they can’t reach you to discuss about the position because most people tend to focus on the main content rather than the small details like contact information.
