3 Major Red Flags On Your CV That You Didn’t Know End Up Working Against You

3 Major Red Flags On Your CV That You Didn’t Know End Up Working Against You

By Lilian Wamaitha
When I was still looking for a job, I went through a period where I started doubting myself. Yes, I was an entry level job seeker and was applying for positions I knew I could manage but months down the line, I was yet to get an interview invite.
As you can imagine, I started questioning my worth and at some point, I gave up for a while and vowed not to apply for any other jobs? My plan? I had none. All I knew is that, things would work out but all I wanted is to get rid of the feeling that I was not worth it.
Are you going through the same thing? How long have you been applying for jobs without a positive feedback. How many regrets will you get before you finally land a job?
Does this sound like you?
You have seen a very nice job, gone through the job description and are more than convinced that you are the person they are looking for. You go ahead and send in an application and eagerly wait for that interview call.
At the end of it all, you get nothing or regret about how you didn’t make it to the interview stage due to the high number of applications they received and you can’t help but think about how all that is BS.
Did they even look at your CV? What if they already had a candidate in mind and advertising the job was just a formality? You must admit that these are some of the questions that run through your mind when a door closes that you had so much hope in.
At my job I am surrounded by a team of highly qualified recruiters and CV writers who at the end of the day admit that sometimes being left out of a job has more to do with you than the recruiter.
Due to that, I sat down with one Ms. Rebecca Nyawira, a professional CV writer to give insights on some of the things that could be ruining your chances of getting a job.
Spoiler alert: It has everything to do with your CV.

3 CV Red Flags That Might Work Against You

1. You are leaving out information that was key for the job
When you come across a job advert, do you stop and fully internalize what it is the recruiter is looking for or do you just see the years of experience and the education qualifications and immediately conclude that you are the best candidate?
“I write a lot of professional CVs every day for entry levels all the way to people who have years and years of experience. Some of them will come to us because they have a job they want to apply for and want their CVs tailored to that particular job while others want a CV that is fit for the current job market. Whatever the case, a CV is a selling document and when you leave out information, what you are telling the recruiter is that, ‘this job is not that important to me’ or ‘I am just testing the waters’ and what will happen is that you will be left out.
An application is more than the years of experience and a degree or diploma. It is in what the employer is looking for and not what you think you are.
At the end of the day, remember that when you are sending that CV, you are sending it to someone you don’t know and who has no idea who you are. What will make them stop and say ‘Wow, this is exactly who I am looking for,’
It is in the details. It is in tailoring your CV to fit the job description.
Ms. Carolyne Kariuki, a recruiter at Corporate Staffing Services echoes this sentiment, “When applications are many and you have to look through each CV, not including specific information for instance, the time period and position you held could ruin your chances for the job.”
Quickly See This >>> How To Write A CV: Tips For Kenyan Job Seekers
2. The unemployment gap is visible
This is not to discourage you from applying for jobs when you have been out of the job market for long, but employers are always concerned about unemployment gaps especially if they are not explained.
“What I tell my clients is that, no matter how many years you have been out of the job market, explain it,” says Ms. Nyawira.
But won’t that ruin my chances of getting the job? It will not. Whether you left employment for a while to start a business, study or had a baby, these things happen and the employer will understand.
Most of the time it might not be the deciding factor, but if an employer is strict on someone with recent experience, then your chances will probably be very slim.
Therefore, don’t leave it blank hoping that they will not notice because you will just be ruining your chances of getting the position.
3. There is evidence of a demotion in your CV
If you held a senior position but your rank later dropped in recent positions, then that is a clear red flag. Some recruiters may want to know why that was and invite you for an interview for that reason, while others will prefer to choose someone who has been consistent.
I know of a lady who suffered a demotion and had to do away with the senior position altogether because she couldn’t get a job.
This does not mean you lie about your qualifications; it is about knowing what will work and what will not.
Now you know, the ball is in your court
If you have been looking for a job for a long time and have the qualifications but can’t seem to land any, its time you took control of the situation. If you can’t seem to know where you are going wrong, instead of giving up, you can do what I did, get a professional to write you a CV that sells you as the best candidate for the job and finally start you career journey. That time you are using applying for numerous positions could be leveraged by applying for one job with a CV that will work for you and start building on your experience.
Lilian is a Communication Officer at Career Point Kenya and what I can tell you is that it’s not too late to land that job you want. My email remains lilian@www.careerpointkenya.co.ke in case you want to reach out for professional advice.

Categories: