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Common CV mistakes
Are you sending your CV to companies and recruitment agencies, but getting no response? Many of us languish in the recruitment wastelands for months and in some cases years, unsure how to generate interest in our CV and secure that all important interview. If this sounds all too familiar, then the solution may be a lot simpler than you think. Below are just some of the common mistakes made in CVs and, by addressing these points, you should soon begin to see results.
Lack of attention to detail
One of the most common reasons for a CV being assigned to the recycling bin is spelling and grammatical errors. There is no excuse for these type of mistakes and by using the spelling and grammar check on your word processing application and by getting a family member or friend to check the CV, you can ensure that the document is word perfect.
Jargon / abbreviations
You must bear in mind that it is likely that your CV will initially go to a HR Manager, who may not have the industry knowledge or level of technical understanding that the Hiring Manager will have. If they don’t understand the CV the chances are you won’t be short listed, so it is vital that you remember the non technical reader when constructing your CV. Keep jargon to a minimum and clarify all abbreviations, ensuring the document appeals to the widest possible audience.
Elaborate formatting
It is natural to want your CV to stand out from the crowd and many of us do this by using complicated formatting, colour, graphics and photographs. A CV needs to be as concise and as simple as possible and using these methods simply detract from the content of the document. In addition, graphics will increase the size of the electronic file which may be prevented from reaching the intended recipient due to a firewall or may clog up their inbox, creating a first impression which will be hard to overcome.
Not enough information
Although a CV needs to be concise, some of us go too far and provide only the briefest of overviews. Without any substance to the CV, it is almost impossible for the reader to make an informed decision as to your suitability. You must remember, that they won’t be able to interview everyone, so they need to make the initial short listing decision based purely on the information you have provided. Therefore, make sure you have provided them with enough information to enable them to do this. To give you an idea of how much data to include; try to fill two A4 pages, unless the company specifically requests otherwise.
Appearing boastful
Although a CV is a marketing tool, there is a big difference between self promotion and appearing boastful. The way to address this is to ensure that every claim you make about your own abilities is supported by concrete evidence.
Irrelevant information
Space is a valuable commodity when it comes to your CV. It is important that every piece of information included sells you effectively and therefore there are certain things which can be omitted.
- Interests: Almost everyone can claim that their interests are reading, listening to music and dining out. You are not adding any value to the CV in including this information and so interests should only be added if they are either unusual, thereby saying something about you or they demonstrate a skill relevant to the role for which you are applying.
- Date of birth: Following the introduction of age discrimination legislation in October 2006, it is no longer necessary to include this information.
- Marital Status and children’s details: The reader should be determining your ability to do the job based on your work experience and relevant qualifications. This information is not relevant to a job application and so can be omitted.
- Health: Again, in most cases, this is not relevant to the recruitment process. There may, however, be some positions which require a certain level of fitness and in this case, your health status should be included.
- NI Number: This kind of detail will be asked for once an offer has been made, so it is not required at the early stages of the process.
- References: A simply line at the end of the CV stating that references are available on request will suffice. This removes any opportunity for a potential employer to contact your referees without your consent or before you have had a chance to inform your current employer of your intention to leave.