CV Mistakes: Common Mistakes You Should Avoid to Get A Job|Drjobpro.com

CV Mistakes- Today, employers receive approximately 250 job applications per job posting, and to get their work done, 95% of them rely on ATS software to filter job applications and eliminate unqualified candidates.

So, even if you succeed in convincing the recruiter to pass on your CV, you still have to shine and impress the recruiter. Convincing him requires first eliminating everything that might distract him from your skills and qualifications to encourage him to read your CV to the end.

So, what's wrong with a modern CV? Here are 18 Common Mistakes You Should Avoid to Get A Job:

Irrelevant Personal Information

The basic and essential personal information you need to mention clearly in your CV is your Name, Phone Number, and Email Address since the recruiter will not be able to reach you without them.

Yet, there is another sort of "personal information" that you should never mention in your CV as long as they are not requested explicitly in the job description.

At the top of this information comes the birth date, gender, religion, and nationality. It's illegal to reject an employee because of his nationality, age, or gender in almost all countries under the Equality Law worldwide.

Still, unconscious bias exists, so you have to be smart while writing your CV and keep away every detail that could work against you.

If your marital status, religious convictions, or political preferences are not substantially relevant to your application, avoid mentioning them in your CV and concentrate on the professional qualities that make you a perfect candidate.

Unprofessional Email Address

Because your CV is your first opportunity to highlight yourself as an expert to a prospective employer, you should choose a formal email account. Get a new email address if you're still using that [email protected], which you've created when the email communications were invented.

Several Phone Numbers

Streamline your contact details to make things clear. The more contact information you include on your CV, the more likely you will overlook an essential communication from a potential employer. Include only a single — and only one — phone number on your CV. We recommend adding your private mobile phone number so you can manage your messages and receive calls.

"Objectives" Section

Is there a section at the start of your CV that says something such as, "a team player, motivated, and good listener CSR looking for blah blah blah..."

Buzz lines that all recruiters memorize by heart and wish they could get rid of reading them.

Your CV should make the recruiter stare at your abilities, keep his coffee away, and run across his desks for the phone to contact you and make an initial decision that you are the perfect hire.

So, instead, try writing a summary section that's short, straightforward, and shows your value. For example, "A senior content writer with 10 years of experience writing different forms of content in many areas and managing large teams."

Of course, journalists do this all the time. They craft headlines that inform you what the story is about and tease you just enough to get you to keep reading. In the same way, your introduction should be catchy and do the same.

"Soft Skills" Section

According to Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter, executive resume writer and CEO of Dallas-based coaching firm Career Trend, if you include a skills section on your resume, it should be focused on hard skills and abilities rather than soft skills. "Soft skills are crucial," Barrett-Poindexter says, "but I would thread them into the professional experience section." So, where can you put your soft skills to good use? This is where your cover letter comes from.

Buried Achievements

It's continuously repeated, "YOU SHOULD HIGHLIGHT YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS IN YOUR CV." Still, only a few professionals know how to highlight these accomplishments in their CVs, while many others don't even mention any achievement.

So, you have to understand that mentioning your achievements should be highlighted and backend with numbers; read this to unleash your achievements and quantify your unique strength points: CV Writing: How to Make Your CV Shine with Numbers?|Drjobpro.com

Pronouns

It would help if you used the first-person pronoun when writing the summary section of your LinkedIn account. While there is some controversy when it comes to a resume, it is widely understood that you should avoid using personal pronouns such as "I," "myself," "she," or "he" when talking about yourself. Instead, write your resume in the third person, omitting all the pronouns from the sentences.

Grammatical And Spelling Mistakes

You have to double-check your CV. Avoid using slang words. Make sure that you write in the correct tense with the correct pronoun.

And if you're having trouble spotting errors on your resume, hire a professional, counselor, or friend, or use proofreading software like Grammarly.

Employment Gaps

Having unexplained gaps in your employment history raises red flags and worries recruiters.

So, don't mention it in your CV and only mention it in the job interview (if you are asked to talk about it) and make sure there are solid justifications and evidence that you have made good use of those gaps, such as attending training courses or working as a freelancer.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/d1wZ5EFvFPM

False or Deceptive Details

False claims are at the top of the list of things not to include on your resume. Many recruiters are very flexible about their demands and accept candidates in the proper position even if they don't meet all of their requirements, so don't lie about your qualifications.

They are experienced in exploring claims related to skills, average salary, job titles, and achievements. And what they can't figure out with experience by doing a quick Google search to show them everything about you as a person and as an employee.

"References" Section

The benefits of not mentioning your references considerably outweigh the benefits of mentioning them. The recruiter is entirely aware that you have references, and they will say good things about you, but unless he asks for them explicitly, don't mention them in your CV.

A Lengthy, Rambling CV

Your CV shouldn't be more than two pages, and its content should be to the point. Focus on answering the recruiter's question: "Why should I hire this candidate?"

Use action verbs, highlight your transferrable skills, quantify your achievements. Think about how to sell yourself to the potential employer by showing off how you will be a solution to all his problems.

Moreover, avoid mentioning events that happened tens of years ago; there is no need to mention that you attended an ICDL course in 1990 while your work already depends on using MS programs.

Salary Details

Your next employer doesn't need to know how much was your previous salary since every company hires according to its budget and needs. So, mentioning your previous salary will only convey your interest in money.

Unless it's discussed during the interview, close this financial chapter until it's time to negotiate your new salary with the new employer.

Bad Format

Although adding more colors and fonts will make your resume look lively, this is not the best option because your resume is difficult to read.

Also, keep ATS in mind as you write it and make an effort to make your resume readable on all screens as many employers use algorithms that scan resumes for keywords and assign you a score based on how well your resume matches their needs.

Use the exact keywords on your resume in the job description, and don't add any images, tables, or anything else that the system won't recognize as text.

Use Calibri or Arial font styles in 11- or 12-point sizes. Italics, strong text, and colors should be used discreetly, and frames and tables should be avoided, as they can all detract from the text.

Should you send your CV in Word or PDF file? Find the answer!

Embedded Visuals

While images are attractive to a recruiter, applicant tracking systems cannot read or translate them and will disqualify your application because of them. Recruiters also don't want to see more images, tables, and graphs of what you're doing as a distraction.

Keep all the photos you want to submit in your portfolio.

Links

Links that direct people away from your CV and into your company's or college's website or other websites should be avoided.

Add links to your Linkedin profile and a link to your portfolio only.

Bad Words About Your Current Employer

When drafting your CV, don't include any information regarding why you left a job or are not satisfied with your current position if you are still employed. You can comment on what kind of role you want, but keep your feedback positive. Likewise, while explaining your experience, stick to the facts about your accomplishments on the job. It's OK to stress some of the obstacles you face and how to overcome them, but don't criticize other companies.

Irrelevant Hobbies

It's OK to list your hobbies and interests as long as they're relevant to the job or sector you're applying for. If not, eliminate them from your CV for the time being to save room, and keep your favorite Netflix show for a discussion starter during the interview!

Recommended Reading:

• How to Write A CV with No Mistakes in Minutes?|Drjobpro.com
• CV Writing: How to Tailor Your CV to a Specific Job Description?|Drjobpro.com
• How to Write A CV with No Mistakes in Minutes?|Drjobpro.com

Conclusion Statement

Delete the phrase, "I confirm that all of the above information is correct and up-to-date," followed by a date and signature at the end of your resume. It is known that all information is correct and up-to-date without mentioning it!

To Conclude,

You have to look for ways to stand out and follow them, and the first of these is to avoid common mistakes when writing resumes and delete everything that is not useful immediately.

Do you have any tips you would like to share with us? Mention it in the comments below!