10 Things Keeping Your CV From Being Selected

What is hindering me from getting the jobs that I apply for when I feel I am qualified? Why do I receive radio silence after sending multiple job applications to different companies? These are some of the questions we tend to ask ourselves during that stage of job seeking.

First impressions matter a lot not only in presentations but also in your CV. When the employer has your CV, they only have about 7 to 20 seconds to determine if you are the right candidate for the job.

To get a shot at an interview, you need to master the art of writing a stunning CV that will get you noticed.

But for some reason, if you have been applying for jobs but never get to hear back from the recruiters, it means that your CV is wanting and it needs a much-needed revamp..

You could either have a CV Writing professional look at it, or you can review it yourself for the following common CV mistakes.

1. Unprofessional email addresses

You may be a fan of certain movies or shows but you need to shy away from using an email address like winteriscoming@gmail.com.

Such email addresses should be kept for personal accounts that you don’t use to apply for jobs. It takes approximately 5 minutes to set up an email address so if you don’t have one, you should think about getting one.

A professional email address would be made up of your names and maybe numbers in some cases. Case and instance is joykoech@gmail.com or koech.joy74@yahhoo.com.

2. Inaccurate dates

When drafting your CV you need to ensure that the dates you give are correct.

“Nothing is more annoying than going through a CV and realizing that some of the dates given do not match the qualification of the candidate,” says Recruitment Manager Grace Kimani.

3. Formatting

It is frustrating for recruiters when they come across a CV where they have to figure out where one section ends and the other starts.

Presentation is key and the way your CV looks will determine to a great extent if you get a job or not.

4. Too much personal information

Including too much personal information that is unrelated to the job that you are applying for makes your CV longer and could harm your chances of getting shortlisted for a job.

You are pitching for a job so the recruiter is not really interested in things like your tribe, marital status, religious or political affiliations, or even gender. They are interested in you as a professional and what you are bringing to the table.

5. Misleading information

More and more employers are now carrying out background checks before taking somebody on board.

Nearly everybody exaggerates their achievements on their CV but stretching that too much could land them in trouble rather than give you the job.

“I have seen candidates mess themselves up with some of the misleading information they put on their CV,” says Ms. Kimani.

6. Some illegible fonts

“We get a lot of CVs where candidates decide to go all artistic and use 4 different fonts in almost all colors of the rainbow.”

The one golden rule of writing a CV is to keep to one easy font, Calibri, Times Roman, or Arial in black.

7. Long paragraphs

Put yourself in the shoes of the employer. Chances are that they want a CV that is easy to read and that will quickly give them all the information they need.

Nobody wants to read through very long paragraphs; the highest possibility is that they will ignore your CV and move on to the next one.

8. Lack of a cover letter

Most candidates perceive a cover letter as a nice to have rather than a necessity when applying for jobs.

However, when you think about it from the recruiter’s side of view, it can be the key difference between you getting that interview or not.

A well-written cover letter will spark the recruiter’s interest and will immediately make them want to read your CV.

Like your CV, ensure that your cover letter is presentable, the font and formatting should be on point, and explain why you are the perfect fit for the organization.

9. Wrong chronological order

Something so simple but yet one that gets so many CVs unnoticed. What you start with determines if you are getting a job or not, it’s that simple.

That said, employers want to see your most recent engagements before looking into your past. Be very careful therefore when writing a CV and ensure that you follow the right chronological order.

10. Unexplained employment gaps

In the age of retrenchments, staff layoffs, and redundancy, employment gaps are something that can’t be lacked in some CVs.

However, the problem is not having these gaps but failing to explain them. Don’t just assume that the employer will guess that you were running your own business for the three years you have not been employed.

Instead, what they will see is a job hopper and somebody who can’t stick to one job. The employer wants to see if your skills have been utilized and are up to date. Explain every gap in a way that allows you to stand out to your potential employer.

Conclusion

Your CV getting noticed or not depends on what you are communicating to the employer. If you want to stand out as the best candidate, ensure that you take your time to go through your CV ensuring that you don’t have some of the mistakes discussed above.

Are you having trouble making your CV stand out? Talk to our professional CV Writers today for a job-winning CV.