10 CV Mistakes Everyone Should Avoid

A CV is a document that provides the reader with an overview of your education, skills, and experience. It is typically used in job applications to provide hiring managers with a brief summary of your qualifications. CV stands for curriculum vitae which is Latin for “course of life.” The term was first used in the 18th century to describe a course that someone had successfully completed at university or college.

Following are the 10 CV mistakes everyone should avoid:

1. A Bad Objective

Do not use a bad objective at the top of your CV. It is not only a waste of space, but it also gives off the wrong impression and shows you are unprofessional. You should instead use a summary of your skills or qualifications. You can’t put too much information in one paragraph on your CV. You should break up your work experience into various sections and only include relevant information to each section.

2. Language Errors 

The first thing that should be noted is that you should not use slang or abbreviations which are not understood by the reader. You also need to make sure that you are using the right tense. It is essential to proofread your CV before submitting it for consideration. You should have someone else proofread it as well, and if possible, ask them for feedback on what they think about it. You can also ask a friend or family member who knows you well to give you feedback on your CV.

3. Prioritizing Duties Instead of Accomplishments

The first mistake that everyone should avoid is not prioritizing their duties instead of accomplishments. This is because it will make them seem lazy and unproductive. Do not include your education and experience in the CV. This is because it will make you seem less qualified for the position they are applying for.

4. Too Much Visually

Too much visually – The visual design of your CV is just as important as its content. If you are going for an interview, make sure that it looks good on paper and that it is easy to read too.

5. Unclear or Incorrect Contact Information

Make sure your contact information is clear and correct so that your resume auto connect with LinkedIn users. If you’re applying for a job, include the company name in the address line. If you’re not sure where to put it, use the header or footer section of your document.

6. Unpassionate Objective

The objective statement on your CV should be short, concise and to the point. It should show why you are the best candidate for a position. This is the only section of your CV that is not in chronological order so it needs to grab attention and tell a story right away. Do not use cliched or generic statements such as “I am interested in this position because I enjoy working with people” or “I would like to be considered for this position because I am an excellent worker”. These statements are not convincing enough and don’t show any personality.

7. Too Long or Too Short

A curriculum vitae should not be more than two pages long because it might make the reader lose interest in reading it if it goes on for too long.

8. Lack of Objectivity

Objectivity is the key to a successful CV. It should be tailored to the position you are applying for. It should not be generic or vague, but instead it should be specific and tailored to the company you are applying for.

It is important that you keep your CV up-to-date with your current skills and achievements, so it can reflect your best self. You also need to keep in mind that a CV is not just a list of jobs and work experience, but also what you can offer a company from your personal qualities.

9. Fancy Exaggeration

It is tempting to embellish your CV, but this can be a risky move. If you exaggerate your skills or qualifications, it’ll be hard to back up these claims if they are ever questioned. For example, if you claim to have five years of experience in marketing when you only have one year, it’ll be difficult to prove that you’re telling the truth and that you have the skills to back up your claims.

10. Unoriginality

You don’t want to be the person who sends out a CV that looks like everyone else’s. You want to stand out and not get lost in the pile of CVs.