Mistakes to avoid in the CV
When you write a CV you have to be very careful not to make mistakes. Writing information that is not clear or wrong will not help you to get the job. Read the tips to make no mistakes.
Employers or recruiters may only spend a few seconds reading your resume, which is why it is important to avoid mistakes and write correctly.
If your curriculum is full of errors, the employer may delete it before even reading it carefully. They might think, “If this person makes so many mistakes when he is trying to make a good impression, what kind of worker will he/she be?” That way you could possibly miss the chance of being called for a job interview.
Here are some mistakes to avoid when you write your resume or CV:
Write your information in a clear and simple way, and organize the content well. You can follow these two practical tips:
- Divide the information you want to include in sections because it will be easier to find. For example: personal details, education and training, work experience, etc. That way your resume will look well organized, clear and easy to read.
- Be careful when writing work experiences. First write the most recent jobs with start and end dates. Recent jobs are the ones you have done lately or are doing at the time of writing your CV. Then add older work experiences. Remember to always write the most important ones related to the application you are participating in.
Even minor grammar errors can be a problem because they make you seem unattentive in the eyes of the employer.
- Carefully review your resume one last time, and if you can, ask someone else to read it too.
- If you have any doubts about how to write something correctly, ask for help.
- Check the words you use on the internet to find the best solutions and correct grammar. For example you can use these sites:
Making a mistake in writing your contact details, such as your phone number and email address, is a very serious mistake because employers will not be able to contact you! If you’ve recently changed your phone number or email address, remember to update this information in your CV.
Avoid creating an email address with a name that does not seem serious, that is funny, or hard to write. For job applications, you can use an email address with your first and last name, or just one of them if they are too long. For example: name.surname@gmail.com
Your CV photo should only show your face (like your passport photo). It should be recent and with a neutral background. Avoid images that show bare arms and necklines, photos with friends, family or pets, and photos in non-professional settings (on the beach, at the bar, etc).
Remember that it is not mandatory to include a photograph if it is not specifically requested in the job application.
When writing a CV you have to be honest. While you need to showcase your skills and competencies to get attention, there’s no need to overdo it. If you overdo it, anyone reading will notice it. And if you’re lucky enough to get a job interview, the recruiter or employer won’t take long to figure out whether the skills on your resume are true or not. Wrong or exaggerated information will make you seem unreliable.
Because many applications are received for each job offer, the recruiter has only a short period of time to select candidates to be invited for an interview. For this reason, we advise you not to write more than two or three pages because if it is too long, the recruiter will not have much time to read it.
When writing a CV you need to pay attention to the information you write, as well as the style and format you use.
Pay special attention to:
- the style you choose to write your resume. The fonts that have a “professional” look are Helvetica, Arial and Times New Roman. Others are poorly suited for a resume. Use the same font and size throughout the document in the various sections and texts. Otherwise, your resume will look messy. For example: If for the title of a section you have chosen the font size 14 and for the text 12, then you must keep these sizes throughout the CV.
- clearly highlight sections and other important information in bold type. For example: use bold to write the role pertaining to each work experience.
- Always send your resume in PDF format, if you have not been expressly requested in another format. PDF is the best format because it reads well and doesn’t change depending on the program of the receiving person
When submitting information that concerns you, you must authorize the use of your personal details. If you don’t, you could risk not being contacted or your details not being registered in the company’s database.
Authorize the use of your personal information by adding the sentence: “I authorize the processing of my personal data based on the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679”-“Autorizzo il trattamento dei miei dati personali in base al Regolamento generale sulla protezione dei dati (UE) 2016/679”. Then sign the CV.
If you are looking for jobs that are very different, it is useful to prepare different versions of your CV because each job offer requires different skills. You can customize your resume so that it highlights the required skills in the job description so it will be easier for the employer to understand that you are the right person.
When you email your CV, deliver it to an office, or send it by post, always check that everything is in order and that nothing is missing. For example, remember to:
- attach all required documents, such as a cover letter or identification document.
- send the correct and most recent version of the CV. Always open and review the documents you attach to the email and check if they are the right ones. Check the dates, spelling and other small details.
Useful link
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Check the grammar
Go to the link