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CV For Success - what NOT to do
OK, there is plenty of information on the Internet and also the See My CV website to help you write the perfect CV, but this article from our CV For Success series is going to focus on what NOT to do.
WHY?
I'm sure you will have been told that first impressions account for the majority of recruitment / interview decisions. Well, the first impression a potential recruiter has of your CV works in the same manner.
Due to the volume of CVs that recruiters receive, they have no option but to use the 'first impression' ruling to help them filter the numbers down.
If they spot obvious issues (which you can read below) on your CV, your chance of even being added to a first round shortlist is almost zero.
So, if I want a CV For Success, what should I NOT do?
A well-written resume is usually one or two pages long. Nobody reads more than that anyway. For people with a lot of experience, it may be hard to fit everything in two pages. Most resumes can save a lot of space by avoiding a few unnecessary things:
1. Use an e-mail address that looks unprofessional
I have put this right at the top of the list, as it is one of the first reasons why CVs are rejected. If your email address does not look professional then it is also perceived that you are probably not professional.
Also - don't put down your current employer's email! So many people do this out of habit.
2. Enter too much personal information
Only list personal information directly related to helping you get a job, such as your full name, your contact telephone number, email address and postal address. Nothing else should be on there. So, information such as your birthday, age, marital status, religion, sexual preference or family information should be ommitted. As well as saving the valuable space on your CV, it will help to keep your identity protected and prevent employers from making their decisions (discriminatory or not) too early.
3. List every job you have done
Yes, potential employers do not want to see employment gaps without an explanation, but that does not mean that you need to list every job you have done. Place the most importance on your most recent / relevant jobs and then simply include very brief information in older jobs.
4. List all your education history and qualifications
In similar fashion to the point above, place most emphasis on your most recent period of education and explain your most relevant qualifications in more detail. Your High School qualifications are not required - unless they are very relevant to the job you are applying for.
5. Use too many abbreviations and acronyms
Too many abbreviations can lead people to the assumption that you 'cut corners' or 'take shortcuts' so please try and use correct and complete grammar as much as possible, unless the acronyms are industry jargon and therefore relevant to your CV.
6. Speak negatively about why you left your previous roles
You may think that your reasons were 100% valid, but there is a good chance they may come across negatively. Wait until you are asked to explain them and even then focus on the positives rather than the negatives, eg. There were no promotional opportunities at my previous company and I was keen to develop my skills further and therefore needed a new challenge.
7. Become carried away using different fonts and formatting
Keep it simple. Most recruiters just want to see something that they can read and print off easily. CVs with lots of boxes, font styles and other formatting options become very difficult to read.
Just write it in Arial and send it in a Word Doc or similar.
8. Forget to spell check and grammar check
I still cannot get over that even in the day of such fast / easy / accurate spelling and grammar checking systems, that we still receive so many CVs with basic errors.
Run the software and also get a friend to check it over with a fresh pair of eyes - you will be amazed what they pick up on!
9. Forget to title your CV appropriately
This is our final suggestion to you. Before e-mailing your CV, give it an appropriate name, e.g. First_Last Name_CV_Date_Job reference. It is a great finishing touch and will show that you have great attention to detail.
Summary:
OK, so that should give you a good insight into the top mistakes we are seeing within CVs everyday.
Apply these points in your current and future CVs and you should have your own CV For Success.
Additional Reading and Related Articles:
If you are keen to learn more about the CV advice and job hunting services offered by See MY CV, please click on the links below:
CV How To - your guide to creating a CV which will help you maximise your job hunting opportunities
Creating a Video CV - understand why this Web 2.0 tool is becoming more and more important to employers
Latest Jobs - view the very latest jobs from the UK, Europe and even the USA