Top 10 CV Nightmares

As a recruitment agency we receive hundreds of CVs every week, so we know a thing or two about good CV writing practices. To kick off Halloween season, we thought we’d go through some examples of nightmare CV’s so you won’t repeat them.

1. Unprofessional email address - Most of us when we were younger had an embarrassing first email addresses, we thought were funny at the time. However, the recruiter may see it as unprofessional and stop reading your CV before they have even started. Therefore, if you fall into this category, we recommend creating a completely new email specifically for job searching.

2. Poor spelling and grammar - Please ensure you proof read your CV before submitting. It is also good practice to get a friend or family member to read through and double check any spelling errors you may have missed.

3. Gaps in employment history - It is important you explain any gaps you have in your employment history.

4. Poor structure - A good structure to follow is Contact Details, Personal Statement, Work Experience,  Skills and Education.

5. Exaggerating skills/experience - Don’t lie on your CV, you will get found out! This is even more important if you are working in a care/support environment as you are responsible for vulnerable individuals.

6. Include irrelevant information - Mentioning unnecessary hobbies and interests can take up valuable space on your CV. Try mentioning relevant hobbies such as any volunteering experiences you may have done.

7. Too long or too short - Your CV should be no longer than 2 pages. You need to grab the recruiter’s attention straight away and keep them interested. A good way to do this and to save space is to use bullet points. This will help you to promote everything you want the recruiter to focus on.  

8. Include obvious skills/cliches - Recruiters could receive over a 100 CVs for just one job role. They will see the same phases over and over again such as “I am a hardworking, driven and motivated individual”. Try and avoid using typical cliches and buzzwords, as they are overused. You need to ensure you are standing out from the crowd.

9. Format - A common issue is applicants sending their CV in the wrong format such as a word document or a screenshot of a JPEG. Your CV should be in PDF format as this looks the most professional, easy to upload and easy for the recruiter to open.

10. Not tailoring to the job - Every CV must be tailored to the job you are applying for. You must prove your skills and experience are the relevant to the job you are applying for. Your personal statement is a good place to start when tailoring your CV – the first two lines are vital in grabbing the recruiter’s attention.

Think you’ve got a good CV? Why not send it in to us? We have jobs available in the health and social care, industrial, transport, catering, and commercial sector. Please visit the jobs section of our website to find all our latest vacancies.

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