Your CV is your first opportunity to impress an employer—and sometimes your only chance. In a competitive job market, it’s not just about what you include but how well you present it. Small mistakes can cost you the chance to interview, even if you’re the most qualified candidate. With so many applicants vying for the same roles, employers may only spend seconds scanning your CV. Any errors, no matter how minor, can give the impression that you’re careless or not truly committed to the job.
The good news? Avoiding these mistakes is easier than you think. Whether you’re polishing up your CV or starting from scratch, understanding the most common pitfalls will help you stand out for all the right reasons. Let’s dive into the first—and arguably most avoidable—mistake.
1. Spelling and grammar mistakes
Imagine this: you’ve spent hours perfecting your CV, but a single typo could make an employer question your attention to detail. Spelling and grammar mistakes are among the most common reasons CVs get rejected, and they can be a dealbreaker even for roles that don’t explicitly require writing skills. Why? Because they suggest carelessness—something no employer wants in their team.
Even if you’re confident in your writing, mistakes can slip through the cracks, especially when you’ve spent a lot of time staring at the same document. For example, writing “manger” instead of “manager” or using “their” instead of “there” can easily go unnoticed but leave a negative impression.
Practical tips to avoid mistakes:
- Proofread in stages: Instead of reading your CV all at once, check it section by section. Start with headings, then move to your work experience, skills, and finally your contact details.
- Read it aloud: This simple trick helps you notice awkward phrasing, missing words, or sentences that don’t flow naturally.
- Print it out: Errors often stand out more on paper than on a screen. Highlight anything that looks off and correct it digitally.
- Use tools wisely: Tools like Grammarly, Hemingway Editor, or even the spellcheck function in Word can catch obvious errors. However, don’t rely on them entirely—they might miss context-specific mistakes like “lead” instead of “led.”
- Get a second opinion: Ask a friend, mentor, or colleague to review your CV. A fresh pair of eyes can spot things you’ve overlooked.
A real-world example:
One applicant shared their experience of applying for a marketing role and later discovering they had misspelled the company’s name in their cover letter. While it might seem like a small mistake, it cost them the opportunity. If something as crucial as a company name can slip through, imagine what else might.
Taking these extra steps may seem time-consuming, but they’re worth it. Remember, employers view your CV as a reflection of your work ethic and attention to detail. A clean, error-free CV shows that you take pride in your work and are serious about the role.
2. Failing to show performance
Your CV is more than a list of job duties—it’s your chance to demonstrate how you’ve made an impact in your previous roles. One of the most common mistakes candidates make is focusing too much on responsibilities and not enough on achievements. Simply listing tasks like “managed a sales team” or “handled customer enquiries” doesn’t tell employers how well you performed or why you’re the right person for the job.
Employers are looking for results. They want to see evidence that you’ve added value, gone above and beyond, or achieved measurable success. Without this, your CV risks blending in with the rest of the pile.
How to showcase performance effectively
- Quantify your achievements: Numbers make your accomplishments tangible and specific. For example, instead of saying, “improved customer satisfaction,” try, “improved customer satisfaction scores by 15% over six months through process optimisation.” If you’ve increased sales, hit targets, or managed budgets, include those figures.
- Highlight career milestones: Think about the standout moments in your career—did you lead a major project? Save costs? Implement a new system? These are the kinds of details that make you memorable.
- Use action verbs: Start bullet points with dynamic words like “delivered,” “increased,” “streamlined,” or “achieved.” These convey proactivity and confidence.
- Tailor your examples: Make sure the achievements you highlight are relevant to the role you’re applying for. For instance, if you’re seeking a sales position, focus on revenue growth, client acquisition, or team leadership.
Examples of poor vs. strong performance descriptions
- Weak: “Managed a sales team.”
- Strong: “Led a team of six sales representatives, achieving a 20% increase in quarterly revenue and exceeding targets by 15%.”
- Weak: “Handled customer complaints.”
- Strong: “Resolved 95% of customer complaints within 24 hours, improving customer retention rates by 10%.”
What to include for different roles
- Sales and marketing: Highlight revenue increases, lead generation stats, or campaign successes. For example, “Launched a social media campaign that boosted engagement by 30% and generated £50,000 in additional sales.”
- Customer service: Focus on metrics like response times, customer satisfaction scores, or the volume of enquiries handled. For instance, “Managed 200+ customer queries daily with a 98% satisfaction rate.”
- Technical roles: Mention projects completed, processes improved, or systems implemented. Example: “Developed a new inventory tracking system that reduced stock errors by 25%.”
Why this matters
Employers don’t just want to know what you’ve done—they want to know how well you’ve done it. By showcasing performance, you’re proving your value and making it easy for employers to envision the impact you could have in their organisation.
Remember, your CV is essentially a sales pitch. Don’t just tell them what you’ve done—show them why you’re the best at it.
3. Using too many cliché statements
We’ve all seen them: CVs filled with buzzwords and phrases that say everything and nothing at the same time. Statements like “I’m a great communicator” or “I work well in a team” are common, but without evidence, they’re meaningless to employers. Think of it this way—if everyone is claiming to be a “hard worker,” how does your CV stand out?
Clichés don’t just lack originality; they fail to show credibility. Employers want specifics. They’re not interested in bold claims but in concrete examples that demonstrate your abilities.
How to avoid clichés and add substance
- provide examples: Replace vague claims with evidence. Instead of “I’m a great problem solver,” write, “Implemented a new workflow that reduced production delays by 20%.”
- be specific: If you claim to “work well in a team,” back it up. For example, “Collaborated with a cross-functional team to deliver a £100,000 project ahead of schedule.”
- use unique language: Avoid overused phrases entirely. Instead of “I’m passionate about learning,” say, “Consistently pursue professional development, including earning certifications in project management and data analytics.”
Examples of clichés transformed into meaningful statements
- Cliché: “I’m a hard worker.”
- Improved: “Regularly exceeded monthly targets by 15% through proactive lead generation and effective time management.”
- Cliché: “I learn quickly.”
- Improved: “Adapted to a new CRM system within two weeks, resulting in a seamless transition for the team and improved client tracking.”
- Cliché: “I work well under pressure.”
- Improved: “Managed a team during a high-pressure product launch, delivering a successful campaign on time and increasing revenue by 25%.”
By avoiding empty phrases and focusing on evidence-based statements, you can make your CV more compelling and trustworthy. Employers are far more likely to take notice of a candidate who can demonstrate their skills rather than just claiming to have them.
4. Incorrect contact details
This may seem like a small oversight, but incorrect or missing contact details can cost you a job opportunity. An employer might want to invite you to an interview but be unable to reach you if your phone number has a typo or your email address bounces back. Worse, they may assume you’re careless or unprofessional.
How to avoid mistakes with your contact details
- Check every digit and letter: Carefully review your phone number and email address. Even one incorrect character can render them unusable.
- Use a professional email address: An address like “[email protected]” looks far more professional than “[email protected].” If you don’t already have a professional email, set one up for your job applications.
- Include multiple methods of contact: Provide a mobile number, email address, and, if relevant, a link to your LinkedIn profile or online portfolio. This gives employers more than one way to reach you.
- Avoid outdated or unused contact methods: Don’t list an email you rarely check or a landline you never answer. Make sure the contact details you provide are ones you actively monitor.
A practical example
One candidate applied for their dream job but never heard back. Months later, they realised they had accidentally left a digit out of their phone number. By the time they noticed, the role had been filled. To avoid this scenario, triple-check your contact details every time you submit your CV.
Employers won’t chase you down if they can’t get in touch. Make it as easy as possible for them to reach you—and ensure your details reflect the professional image you want to project.
Finally…
Your CV is often your first chance to make an impression on a potential employer, and avoiding common mistakes can mean the difference between landing an interview and being overlooked. From proofreading for spelling and grammar errors to showcasing your achievements with clear evidence, every detail matters.
Think of your CV as your personal marketing tool. It should reflect your professionalism, attention to detail, and ability to add value to an organisation. Taking the time to tailor your CV, avoid clichés, and ensure all your information is accurate will not only make your application stand out but also demonstrate the qualities employers are looking for in a candidate.
Before you hit send, take a moment to review your CV with fresh eyes—or better yet, ask someone else to check it. With a polished, error-free CV that highlights your strengths and performance, you’ll be in a much stronger position to secure your next opportunity.
Remember, your CV is more than just a document—it’s your ticket to the next step in your career. Make it count!
