Recruiters spend an average of 7 seconds reviewing a CV before deciding whether to read further. That means a single mistake — a typo, a formatting issue, a red flag phrase — can end your application instantly. Here are the 15 most common CV mistakes and how to fix them.
Jumping straight into work experience without a summary forces the recruiter to read your entire CV to understand who you are. Fix it: add a 3–4 sentence summary at the top of your CV.
"Responsible for managing the sales team" tells a recruiter nothing. "Led a sales team of 8, achieving 127% of annual target" tells them everything. Always lead with outcomes, not duties.
Sending the same CV to every employer is the most common and most costly mistake. Each application should be tailored — different summary, different skills emphasis, different keyword choices — to match the specific role.
In the US, UK, Ireland, Australia, and Canada, including a photo is unusual and can actually create unconscious bias concerns. Unless you're applying to a country where photos are expected (Germany, France, most of Europe), leave it out.
Too short (half a page of content) suggests inexperience or effort. Too long (4+ pages) suggests poor editing skills. Two pages is right for most professionals. One page for students or recent graduates.
These look impressive visually but cause ATS systems to misparse your information. Stick to a clean, single-column layout.
Don't ignore gaps — address them briefly. Freelance work, caregiving, health issues, travel, or study can all be framed positively. An unexplained 18-month gap raises questions; a briefly explained one doesn't.
coolboy1984@hotmail.com is not going on your CV. Create a simple firstname.lastname@gmail.com address for job applications.
Listing Microsoft Word and Internet Explorer as skills in 2025 dates you immediately. Keep your skills section current and relevant to today's workplace.
Spelling and grammar errors are the single most cited reason for immediate rejection. Spell-check your CV, then read it aloud, then have someone else read it. Typos are invisible to the author.
Never include salary information on your CV. This is negotiated separately and including it can anchor the conversation at the wrong number.
"References available on request" takes up space and adds nothing. Employers know you have references. Remove it and use the space for something useful.
Marital status, religion, national identity number, driving licence (unless required for the role) — none of this belongs on a CV in most countries.
If you're applying to a country where a photo is expected, it must be a professional headshot — not a selfie, a holiday photo, or a cropped group image. Invest in a proper photo or have one taken against a plain background.
If your LinkedIn profile is complete, include the URL. Recruiters will look you up anyway — make it easy for them and give them a consistent, professional picture.
The default Microsoft Word CV template has been used millions of times. Consider using a professionally designed template that looks distinctive while remaining recruiter-friendly. Our free CV generator offers six unique templates designed for different countries and industries.
If you'd like a professional to review and rewrite your CV, Fiverr's CV writing experts offer affordable packages with fast turnaround times.