Killer CV or CV? 5 Blunders That Could Kill Your Chances

Killer CV or CV? 5 Blunders That Could Kill Your Chances

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Your CV or resume is one of the most important documents you will create, but a single mistake could send all that hard work straight to the recycle bin. Hiring managers and HR executives sort through hundreds of CVs for every job opening. That means they may spend only a few seconds on each one.

When crafting your resume, watch out for these 5 blunders:

1. Fancy Fonts

Your CV should be polished and professional, not showy. Even if the job you are seeking has a creative side, your CV is not the place to show off your artistic talents. Avoid fancy fonts, unusual colors, clip art and other flourishes – they take more from your CV than they add.

2. Misspelled Words and Grammatical Errors

No matter what your past accomplishments, misspellings and grammatical errors are sure to send your CV straight to the trash. With so much on the line, there is simply no excuse for sending out a CV that is not letter perfect. Have someone proofread your resume before sending it out.

3. A Lack of Accomplishments

Your future boss does not want to know what your daily duties were. He or she wants to know what you were able to accomplish in the past and what you can bring to the organisation in the future. Your CV should focus on what you have been able to achieve thus far in your career, and the skills you will use to build more in the future.

4. Not Using Keywords

The first person to read your CV may not be a person at all. Search engine robots and automated systems are often used to sort CVs and look for key job skills. If your CV does not include the keywords the robot is looking for, the document may never make it to human eyes. If you do not know which keywords to include, just take your cue from the job description.

5. Too Lengthy

Your CV should not tell your life story, and it certainly should not resemble a novel. Keep your CV short and sweet; limit it to a single page wherever possible and use bullet points where appropriate. The goal is to make the CV easy to read, even for hiring managers who are pressed for time.

When it comes to landing a job, knowing what to avoid can be even more important than knowing what to do. Learning to recognize and overcome these common CV blunders may not guarantee you the position but it can improve your odds.

The CloudSitters Marketing

Content writing is our area of expertise – and our passion! If you need assistance crafting the perfect resume, or proofreading your existing work, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the team.

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