10 things to avoid in your CV

Over my time as a coach and based on industry feedback here are the top 10 things recruiters and hirers hate to see on a CV

1.    Spelling and grammar errors

Employers value attention to detail, if you send out a document with errors what message does that convey? In fact some recruiters have a policy of instantly dismissing any CV with spelling or grammar mistakes. Don’t rely on spellcheck alone - you and your are both spelt correctly but may not be the right word in the sentence!

2.    Lies or exaggerations

That goes for skills, qualifications, job title and achievements. Not only will you demonstrate dishonesty to a potential employer, but there can be serious consequences too.

3.    Unprofessional sounding e mail address

If your personal address is inappropriate create a new account for professional use.

4.    Contact detail mistakes 

If a digit is missed from phone number or includes the wrong email address, this demonstrates a lack of care and more importantly can harm your prospects of getting invited to go further. It does happen so always check!

5.    Too much information

Some candidates are tempted to include as much information as possible in an effort to impress but this can be off-putting to a recruiter.

6.    Details on all qualifications

It’s a common misconception that you have to detail all academic grades! This isn’t always necessary. For example one line stating “8 GCSE’s grades A-B” may be appropriate (unless you’re a graduate or have limited work experience where providing a detailed overview could be useful).

7.    Too much employment information

There is no need to provide the address of your employer, details of salary, or reason for leaving. All you need is the company name, job title and dates of employment. The most important bit regarding employment is that you show your responsibilities in each role, including projects you have been involved in, skills obtained and accomplishments.

8.    An unrecognisable electronic format 

A .pdf document is the best option and a universal format that will open if you are using a Mac or PC. Save your CV file as "Your Name - The Job Title - Company Name" i.e., "Tom Hanks - Production Assistant - Bobs TV Company"

9.    Unnecessary details

It may feel as though your CV should contain everything a recruiter needs to know However there are some details you shouldn’t divulge such as NI number and home address (although you can mention where you are based). There is even no legal requirement to include your date of birth.

10. Irrelevant information

Long sections of irrelevant information show a lack of candidate awareness, or suggests candidates have simply submitted a generic CV.

Its always good to get a fresh pair of eyes to look at your CV. Why not get in touch for advice and support in improving your CV.