If you have been applying for a lot of jobs but not getting a reply then it might be because of your CV. If you are using the same CV ever since you graduated or a CV that’s even half a year old, it is time to revamp it and make it new. Reviewing your CV will make you come across some silly little mistakes that you might have made and although they seem little to you, they can have a bigger impact on the recruiter and that too is a negative one. 

We have listed some common CV mistakes that the recruiter thinks can kill your CV and that you should avoid at all costs. According to professional resume writing services in Arizona, some of these mistakes may be intentional and some unintentional but avoiding these mistakes will give your CV the extra shine that it needs. We have also listed the ways you can fix these mistakes easily:

Poor Formatting

The first that a recruiter will notice automatically in your CV is its format and if your CV has bad formatting then the recruiter might not even give it a read. A recruiter only views the CV for 7 seconds so you have to grab their attention in that short span of time or they will move to the next candidate so make sure the format of your CV is proper. Avoid leaving a word of a sentence hanging on the next page, avoid long paragraphs, use spacing properly and avoid leaving margins in headers. You can also use a readymade format which will save you time and effort. 

Spelling and Grammatical Errors

You might think that making one spelling error on a CV is not that world-ending but it might just be what makes your CV go in the shredder instead of the accepted files section. Bad grammar and spelling errors might seem like little mistakes that make no impact on you but they will make the recruiter think that you are lazy and undedicated. Proofreading your CV from start to end will help you identify such errors and fix them. You can also print out the CV and then read it since reading things off a page helps you see the mistakes more clearly. One of the easiest ways to avoid any grammatical and spelling errors is to put your CV through a checking software like Grammarly. 

White Lies

Including some white lies in your CV and thinking they will not do any harm is a misjudgment that cost you a perfectly good job. Recruiters mostly have years of experience and they can identify white lies better than anyone else. Whether it is over-exaggerating an achievement or increasing a certain figurative amount, avoid using any lies in your CV. The recruiter might even believe it now and you may get the job but your lie will catch up to you sooner or later. You might be given responsibility based on that lie and this will eventually make the recruiter see that you lied on your CV which will ruin your reputation. Stick to your achievements and it is good to be confident but do not, ever, oversell them. 

Applying with a General CV

If you have one CV that you use to apply to all the jobs then it is no wonder that you are not getting a callback. Using a general CV will not make the recruiter see how you are a good fit for that specific job instead you need to tailor your CV to meet the job requirements. Read the job description thoroughly and then make your CV accordingly so that when the recruiter views your CV, they will see how perfect you are for the position. Incorporate the keywords mentioned in the job description in your CV and use words and adjectives similar to the job description. This will increase your chances of impressing the recruiter and your CV will also be able to pass the ATS scan. 

Putting Wrong Contact Information

Putting in the wrong contact information is a common mistake that can be made due to a typo. You may have typed the wrong contact number or you might have written an email address that you no longer use. If you have shifted and your CV has the previous address, you need to update it too. Also, make sure you use your full name and the spelling is correct. Remember, your contact information is really important as it is the only way through which the recruiter will be able to reach back to you. Recheck your contact information twice to make sure everything is accurate and there are no mistakes. 

Making the CV Too Long

The point of a CV is to summarize all your professional experiences and skills as concisely as possible so that the recruiter does not have to waste too much time on it. Avoid using long sentences and adding too much detail. Keep all the information precise and short.  Your CV needs to be a maximum of 1 to 2 pages in length. Although if you are in a senior position with experience of more than 30 years then your CV might exceed 2 pages. But if you are a fresh graduate or someone with 2 to 3 years of experience than 1 page is enough. If your CV is unnecessarily long, the recruiter might dispose of it without even giving it a read because the recruiter does not have this much time. So, ensure your CV is clear and concise to make it a short read and make things easier for the recruiter. 

Some other common mistakes include using an inappropriate email address, making big claims without backing them up, using cliches, bashing your previous employer, using decorative fonts, using too many colors, not including figures and quantifiable numbers, and much more. You can take help from professional CV writing services as well to get a professional CV that is perfectly tailored to your needs and accurate in every way possible.