Common CV Mistakes to Avoid

1. Wrong or outdated contact details. Check your phone number and email every time. An employer who can't reach you will move on.
2. An unprofessional email address. Use a simple address based on your name. Create a new free one for job applications if you need to.
3. Spelling and grammar mistakes. Read your CV aloud, then ask someone else to read it. Pay special attention to names of employers and schools.
4. A generic summary. “Hardworking individual seeking a challenging position” says nothing. Name your field, your strongest evidence and the role you want. See how to write a professional summary.
5. Duties instead of achievements. “Responsible for sales” tells the reader little. Show what changed because of you. See how to describe work experience.
6. Sending the same CV to every job. Adjust your summary, skills and the order of your bullet points to match each advert.
7. Too long. Most CVs should be one or two pages. Cut old, irrelevant detail first.
8. Personal details that aren't needed. Date of birth, marital status, religion, hometown and ID numbers are usually unnecessary. Include them only if the application asks.

9. Decorative designs that don't print. Heavy colour, graphics and multiple columns can look good on screen but print badly and confuse screening software.
10. Unexplained abbreviations. Not every reader knows every acronym. Write the full name the first time, especially for local institutions and qualifications.
11. Inconsistent dates and formatting. Use one date style throughout and check that dates don't overlap or contradict each other.
12. Exaggerating or inventing. Qualifications and past jobs are often checked. A false claim can cost you the job, even after you start.
13. Listing referees without asking them. Always ask first, and tell them which jobs you've applied for so they're ready for a call.
14. Sending the wrong file type or name. Send a PDF unless asked otherwise, named clearly, e.g. Ama-Owusu-CV.pdf.
15. Not following the application instructions. If the advert asks for a specific format, documents or subject line, follow it exactly.

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