What should I avoid when writing my CV?

 

Knowing what to put in your CV can be quite difficult. How much detail should you go into? How many pages long should it be? What order should your details be in? Obviously, everyone’s CV will look different, and that’s what will hopefully make your CV stand out! But here are some tips on what to definitely avoid when it comes to creating your CV… 

 

Firstly, never write in third person. Using first person to showcase your information just looks and sounds more genuine and personal. For example, you would say, ‘I have experience using Excel’, rather than ‘John Smith has experience using Excel’. Also, it is advisable not to add a photograph of yourself to your CV. This achieves nothing, and it generally just a waste of space; instead fill this space with important information about yourself. This is how you set yourself apart from the crowd, not by showing what you look like. 

 

On the flip side of this, it’s important to allow margins and white space. Don’t make your CV look like a novel! White space allows the eyes to rest between reading and absorbing the content. Don’t allow too much white space however, as it might make your resume look blank; Find a good medium in-between. 

 

Another thing to avoid is removing your personal information. Too many people don’t include the likes of their telephone number or email in their CV’s, and this can make it virtually impossible for a recruiter to contact you about a role you may be a good fit for. Additionally, failing to mention your home address and postcode could dampen your chances of getting noticed too, as recruiters would like to know your location in relation to the employer site. Furthermore, recruiters may use jobsites to search for specific location ‘key-words’ on CVs, so if your address isn’t on your CV, you may not feature in the search, and ultimately miss out on the job opportunity. 

 

A really obvious one is just to ensure that your CV has no spelling, punctuation, or grammar mistakes. A recruiter may be kind enough to let one mistake slide, but it’s important that you check your CV over until you’re sure there are no errors. Your CV is essentially a demonstration of your writing skills and attention to detail. If it is littered with mistakes, you’ll likely not be considered for a role, regardless of your qualifications and experience. 

 

Lastly, try to avoid using cliché terms like ‘results-driven’, ‘passionate’ and ‘hard-working’. Even if you wish to describe yourself in this way, use different synonyms, as a large percentage of CV’s will include these same phrases. 

 

Hopefully, this blog will assist you in developing your CV and support you in your search for a new role! We at Recruit 2 You pride ourselves on placing people in jobs they that suit them to the ground, so why not head down to our Job Search page on our website, and apply for one of our many roles with your brand new, improved CV?