5 CV blunders and how to avoid them
Neville Rose, director at CV Writers, shares his CV tips for PR professionals
Is your CV getting the response you want? If not, it might be time to take a different approach. We’ve put together a list of 5 reasons why your CV may not be getting you the interviews it should.
1. You only have one version of your CV
If you are using the same CV to apply for every job then there is a significant chance this may not work. Every job description is different. Even for seemingly similar job titles, the requirements can vary enormously so it’s important to focus and target your CV to the requirements of each individual role. Spending more time on fewer applications will generally yield better results than a scattergun approach.
2. Uploading a CV to a job board and then kicking back
Successful job seekers proactively manage their applications. With the technology around these days that will match your CV to specific job vacancies or publish your CV to multiple sites, it may be tempting to sit back and let employers find you. However, you will be much more successful, more quickly, by proactively applying for roles. Use all channels available including word of mouth, job boards, recruitment agencies and company websites.
3. Copying and pasting job descriptions into your CV
A CV is a unique and personal documentation of your career. It should contain information on how well you have performed in the various roles you have undertaken and use examples of achievements to highlight this. Too many people simply state a list of responsibilities or duties they have carried out. Even worse, some job seekers simply copy and paste hypothetical information from a job description. This is a big no-no.
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4. Spelling and grammar mistakes
As a PR professional your copywriting skills are likely to be top notch but you will also appreciate the importance of having a second pair of eyes look over any copy. Are you 100% sure there are zero spelling mistakes in your CV? A classic mistake to look out for is ‘driving licence’, often mis-spelt ‘license’. A hardened recruiter may discard a CV with any errors. After all, this would also reflect badly on them. The solution is to always get someone else to proofread your CV for you.
5. Overly designed CVs
Of course, you want your CV to stand out but don’t think that is achieved by having lots of design features. Infographics that self-certify particular levels of technical skills also should not be used. ATS systems that automatically scan information in a CV will not be able to read tables, pictures or graphics, so valuable information may be lost if you use these. Keep the format clean and clutter free.
This article is written by Neville Rose, director of CV Writers.
In addition to a CV writing service they can help with LinkedIn profiles, cover letters and more. You can get things started with a free CV review.