That fatal mistake on your CV you wish you hadn’t made

Are you only rarely invited to an interview and wonder why? It could simply be because you've made one of the following mistakes in your application. So it may be time to examine your CV closely to ensure you haven't made the sort of mistakes that can be your downfall. Here are some of the things to avoid.


27.06.2017

Jokey e-mail address

wonderwoman@gmail.com or flying_tomato@hotmail.com don’t read well in your contact details. You should also avoid sending your CV from this type of e-mail address. In any case, there is a good chance that your e-mail would get blocked by the recipient’s spam filter.

Irrelevant information

Avoid giving information that is of little or no interest. You can mention your hobbies without going into detail, so, if you are passionate about movies, don’t start listing your favourite directors. Ditto regarding your work experience. Your summer job at the bakery is not very important if you are applying for a position as an engineer. And there is no need to mention your exam results unless you are applying for a job as a scientific collaborator and have graduated with honours in the relevant branch related to the function.

Friends as references

If you mention references, rely on someone you know in a professional context – and ask that person first if you can include them on your CV.

Your reason for leaving

The question about why you left (or want to leave) your previous employer will probably arise during your interview. It is not necessary to include this information in your CV. But do prepare yourself to answer this question and make sure you have a better reason than “my company car was not big enough”.

Strange fonts or symbols

A CV is not the right place to try unusual fonts or original symbols. It will often be perceived as a lack of maturity and it is possible that the recipient will not even manage to read your CV if their computer can’t recognise the font you use. Keep it simple unless you are applying for a creative job for which you must stand
out. Whatever happens, it is important that your CV is always clear.

Overly complicated words

HR people might not be aware of the technical jargon related to your job: limiting your use of it will make your CV a much more enjoyable read.

Lies

Never lie in your CV. The truth will always come out. Recruiters are experts who can determine at the interview if you have lied in your CV. There’s more on this in the next section.

Disorder

Not one HR manager will make the effort to consult a CV as long as your arm that doesn’t have a chronological or other logical order. Be sure to have a structure, keep it brief, and limit yourself to the information that will be decisive in the first phase.

Holiday photo

You can include a photo of yourself, but it goes without saying that it shouldn’t be a picture of you wearing your most alluring beach attire!

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