Many of us make mistakes when creating our CV – however it can cost you. Here are some of the most common mishaps people make and some details in avoiding them.
Spelling Mistakes
With so many tools available to check your spelling, there is no reason to have any spelling errors in your CV. When employers see simple errors like these, it tells them that you don’t pay very close attention to your work. To avoid any problems, always carefully proofread and use a spell checker program to find errors. Consider having someone else read your CV, as well, since they may be able to spot mistakes that you missed.
Avoid rushing when putting together your CV. Trying to get things done in a hurry can easily lead to errors. The last thing that you want is for your CV to get rejected because of a simple error that could have easily been avoided if you had slowed down and taken your time.
No matter what type of position you are applying for, your goal should be to present yourself in the most professional light. If you are having trouble catching errors when you proofread your document, try changing the color of the font and making it a different size. This forces your brain to view the text in a different way, which can make it easier to see errors in your own writing.
Failing To Explain Employment Gaps
A lot of people have breaks in their work history. Usually, this isn’t an issue if you explain why any gaps occurred.
Relatively short gaps of just a few weeks don’t need to be explained. Any extended periods when you were not working, however, require justification. If you don’t tell employers what was going on during that time, they may be suspicious. It will be worse again if they google you and see you have a felony and a mugshot online. If so you will need mugshot removal – see this post on the matter. The last thing that you want is for them to think that you were sitting around doing nothing during your time away from work.
Recruiters understand that people sometimes have to take breaks. Let them know what you were doing during that time, whether it was volunteering, caring for a loved one, or going on an adventure. You don’t have to be embarrassed about being out of work if you were ill or had to deal with a medical problem.
Being Dishonest
Avoid the temptation to lie or make up information on your CV. Even if you think that employers won’t check up on you, most of them do. If they find any inconsistencies between the information that you provided and the details that they were able to verify, it will instantly disqualify you for the position.
Things like inflating your grades, saying that you went to college when you never did, or giving yourself a more professional sounding job title may seem like a good idea when you are putting together your CV. In almost all cases, however, these lies will come back to bite you. Even if employers don’t notice the lies, you can easily make a mistake during your interview that draws attention to your dishonesty. Few things in life are worse than getting caught in a lie. Apart from the moral aspects of lying, it is also a criminal offense to lie on your CV.
Rather than feeling like you have to lie about who you are, try to find ways to showcase your skills and talents. With the right approach, you can draw attention to all of the qualifications that make you a great fit for the job.
Failing To Provide Evidence To Back Up Your Claims
When you are rushing to get your CV turned in on time, you may be tempted to include statements without backing them up with proof. If you really want your document to have an impact, however, you should provide plenty of evidence showing what you have accomplished and how your skills can benefit the company.
As long as it doesn’t make your document any less readable, it is worth providing hard facts and figures wherever you can. Ideally, your goal should be to create a document that is well-written and easy to read while still providing plenty of facts and figures. Today’s employers expect candidates to be able to communicate well through writing.
According to most, you should highlight your achievements along with talking about your job duties. If you had an entry-level position, your actual duties may not have been very impressive. For instance, you may have been tasked with sweeping up messes or filing papers. Instead of just listing these job duties, talk about how your skills made a difference for the company. As an example, you could mention how your data entry skills helped keep the business on track during a particularly busy or challenging time.
Failing To Explain The Reasoning Behind Your Choices Or Actions
Your CV should be more than just a list of your qualifications and credentials. Instead, it should also help employers understand why you have made the choices that you have in your career. It also is a place where you can highlight the skills that you have developed through your experience.
For instance, if you mention any extracurricular activities, you should discuss what you have learned from participating and any important roles or responsibilities that you have had in relation to those activities.
Instead of just listing off your activities or credentials, try to help potential employers understand why you have pursued the path you are currently on.