The Top 5 Mistakes Candidates Make on Their CV – Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Hello everyone!

Welcome back to my blog, and thank you for stopping by for two reasons: first, because you've chosen my blog amongst many others (which might seem similar but trust me, they’re not!), and second, because I know you're putting in the effort to change your current situation. Let's face it, not many people research CV optimisation just for fun – but I do it for a living, and I love it!

Let me guide you through a few things you may not have considered.

As a recruiter, I go through at least 100 CVs a day. The harsh truth is, the majority of applicants aren’t relevant for the roles they apply to. A small percentage have strong, relevant experience with perfect CVs, but many have vague descriptions of their skills or have great CVs but lack the experience. What I’d like to highlight is that, for every job, there will always be that “perfect” candidate, but here’s the thing – it’s not always the best candidate who gets the job.

Recruiters face plenty of challenges, from counteroffers to budgets, family situations, remote or onsite working preferences... the list goes on. There are countless reasons why a candidate might not take the offer. This is where opportunity lies for the rest.

To be part of “the rest”, your CV needs to be optimised, and I’ll explain how to avoid being rejected in that crucial five-second glance.

Location:

I often see candidates applying for roles outside their area – whether that’s a different city or country. If you're planning to relocate, it's always beneficial to state that on your CV. One of the biggest fears for any recruitment team or hiring manager is spending weeks in the hiring process, only to hit a deal-breaker like needing a visa, sponsorship, or refusing relocation.

Candidates often hope to get their foot in the door and convince the hiring manager later, but compliance rules mean this rarely works out. If you have dual nationality or a relevant visa, it's essential to mention it in your application.

Profile Summary:

Shockingly, many candidates don’t make use of the profile summary space to explain their experience or unique selling points. This section is crucial for recruiters to understand how you see yourself and whether your skills align with the role.

For example, if you're applying for a senior project manager position but call yourself a business analyst, it might cause hesitation. Your CV is your sales pitch to potential employers. If you don’t clearly show the role you’re aiming for, it can seem like you’re applying just for the sake of it, which never works out well.

Quantify Success:

This is something many candidates overlook. Quantifying your achievements can make a much bigger impact than vague statements. Instead of writing, “I am a hard-working consultant,” say something like, “During peak periods, I contributed 60 hours weekly, reducing delivery time by 15%.”

It’s all about showing the impact of your work, not just telling. It’s the difference between saying “Best account manager” versus “Managed a 3 million USD account and positioned the company as a preferred partner within 6 months.”

Keywords:

I’ve seen many CVs where candidates don’t effectively use keywords, despite being specialists in their field. For example, I once reviewed a seasoned Java developer’s CV. He had over 16 years of experience but only mentioned Java twice! His skills didn’t come across, and ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) ranked him lower because of it.

Keywords are vital in today’s competitive market. If you’ve spent years in one role and haven’t updated your CV with the right keywords, you're at risk of being overlooked. Your CV needs to reflect your adaptability and expertise, or junior recruiters might bypass it, assuming you're no longer relevant.

Job Titles:

People often underestimate the importance of how they articulate their job titles. Different organisations use different terminology, which can cause confusion. A “technical lead” in one company might be a “technical project manager” in another.

It’s not always the candidate’s fault, as recruiters are often bombarded with urgent roles. But when your title doesn’t match the vacancy, it’s easy to be dismissed without a second thought. If you’ve been given different titles, consider adding a slash to show both, like "Java Developer/Back-end Engineer." It could make a big difference.

Final Thoughts:

This blog post made me reflect on how unreasonable the hiring process can be. It will never be perfect. Understanding the psychology behind our decisions and the challenges we face will hopefully help you be more empathetic and guide you towards success. After all, that’s what we ultimately want – for you to land the job!

If you need help with your CV, don't be shy and reached out to me for "CV Review" session. You are one step away to make a difference in your job hunting!

BOOK WORKSHOP WITH ME NOW!