Avoid the most common CV/RESUME mistakes

1. Your CV is full of misspellings and grammar mistakes
You've got the chance to show the recruiter how conscientious you are. Don't miss out! A Resume with spelling or grammar mistakes gives the impression that you have not taken your application seriously or that you simply do not work accurately. Show your CV to others – often they see mistakes you have not yet realized, especially if you are not writing the application in your native language.

2. The CV is way too long
Great tip to keep in mind is that the recruiter probably does not have much time. Rewriting and combining two or three task descriptions as one might be a good idea. Delete minor responsibilities that are irrelevant for the position you are applying for. Show your future employer that you are able to focus on the most important things: Two pages are enough! It increases the chance that your CV will be completely read.

3. Your CV is not reader-friendly
Squeezing everything into two pages is not the magic solution to make the recruiter read your CV. Many applicants narrow down the line spacing and page margins or use a tiny font size to make everything fit into two pages – Avoid that! Use bullet points to describe your tasks and focus on the most important things. White space in your CV makes it look clean and gives the recruiter the chance to directly jump from one important fact to the other.

4. You are inconsistent in your CV layout
Hyphens and bullet points, different font types, inconsistent edge distances – these mistakes are more common than you think. Often applicants also mix up verb forms ("Developed ...") and nouns ("Development of ...") to describe their previous positions. Try to keep your style of writing as steady as possible to make a thorough impression and always ask someone to check your CV design!

5. You are using a disadvantage order of items in your CV
The first thing the recruiter wants to know is not which school you went to 10 years ago or which internship you did back then. Don't hide your most recent experiences somewhere in the end of your CV. Always use a reverse chronological order instead! Like this the recruiter sees the most current and the most important position at first sight.

6. Relevant information is missing
It might seem unrealistic to you, but some applicant even forget to mention their contact details. Double-check your phone number and email address! It would be a pity, if the recruiter couldn't reach you to invite you for a job interview, wouldn't it? Your complete post address should also be stated in the CV. Additionally, your work permit or driver’s license might be important information for the recruiter. Think about everything the job might require!


By: Dorothea Schweinefuss

This article is restricted. You have to be logged in to be able to add further reactions.