Writing a C.V can be difficult for many people as it is hard to know what an employer is looking for. Your C.V is your first impression to your potential employer, so it is important to know how to make it look as good as possible. This can be easy if you know what you should include in your C.V and a wealth of experience and qualifications will greatly improve your chances. That all being said, it is just as easy to make mistakes on a C.V that you aren’t aware of. So what are these mistakes and how can you avoid making them? This article will explore these common mistakes and help you to identify them before you send out that all important job application.
- Poor formatting
The first thing a potential employer will notice about your C.V is how it looks. Poorly formatted C.Vs will automatically put the employer off and may cause them to not even read your C.V. A common example of this would be to make a C.V that doesn’t have all of your contact information anywhere on the page, or the categories are not outlined correctly. There are many templates for C.Vs online, so have a look and see which ones you think look the best. Remember to include your name, address, contact number and email address at the top of every page of your C.V and include the words ‘Curriculum Vitae’ or ‘C.V’ somewhere. Try and keep your C.V below two pages if possible, as a lengthy C.V can also cause potential employers to ignore your C.V outright because they don’t have time to read it.
- Spelling/grammar errors
It is very important to proofread your C.V before you submit it in any applications. This is because spelling and grammar errors look sloppy and a potential employer is likely to assume you aren’t very organised or focused if they feel that you haven’t put the right amount of effort into your C.V. Have a friend or family member proofread it too, as a second pair of eyes can help to spot any mistakes you might have missed.
- Not including enough information
While you do want to keep your C.V quite short and sweet, it is important to make sure you include all the information about yourself that might benefit you in your application. Any relevant experience, qualifications, interests, references and a personal statement are a must. You need to show that you are a capable and skilled individual, and a C.V that is too short or lacking in content may give the impression that you are unemployable. Remember that this is your first impression, so it is very important to make sure you look as interesting as possible.
- Casual or colloquial speak
You may have checked your spelling but have you checked that the language you are using is formal and professional? Many people include their own colloquialisms or slang phrases into their C.Vs without realising because it is how they are used to speaking. Remember that you are trying to impress, so it is important to sound like a professional because that is who the employer is going to be looking for. It may feel somewhat unnatural to write differently to how you are used to speaking but it is possibly one of the most important parts of making yourself look employable.
- Including irrelevant information
A potential employer wants to feel as though you have put effort into your application, so sending out a ‘catch-all’ C.V may seem unimpressive if it includes too much irrelevant information to the position you are applying for. Make sure that you tailor your C.V to the industry that you are applying for and take out anything that may be considered irrelevant. It may feel as though your C.V is now too short if most of your experience is in the same sector, so expand on the relevant points more to bulk out the gap in your C.V. If you really feel that you need to include some jobs that maybe aren’t so relevant, just include them with a line or two about why they might have transferrable skills relevant to the role you are applying for.
So now you know what not to do when writing a C.V and hopefully these tips will help you to tidy your C.V up or avoid making these mistakes if you have been struggling to get interviews. There are also many ways you can improve your C.V without experience and qualifications, so why not have a look at our article 5 Ways to Improve Your C.V Without a Permanent Job? Good luck and happy job-hunting!
