A winning CV is necessary if you wish to get a job quickly, but you need to be organised. To develop a winning CV, you will have to adjust your writing style. Best-selling author Sarah Berry has offered her CV writing advice in her best-selling book, “Write a Perfect CV in a Weekend”: Many people feel that their CV is acceptable and doesn’t need adjusting.

A winning CV is necessary if you wish to get a job quickly, but you need to be organised. To develop a winning CV, you will have to adjust your writing style. Best-selling author Sarah Berry has offered her CV writing advice in her best-selling book, “Write a Perfect CV in a Weekend”: Many people feel that their CV is acceptable and doesn’t need adjusting.

You may think your CV is very good, but employers and recruitment consultants may be looking for something different. Avoid being complacent. A CV that worked in the past and got you interviews may no longer work. Whether you are just starting off in your career or are a top director, the goal is the same: to open up employment opportunities and leads in the shortest space of time. Employers base their decision to invite you to interview solely on what you present in your CV. Are you using the best technique to convince employers of your value? Have you reworded your CV or just updated it? Have you taken the time to update your CV writing skills, taking into account the latest changes in the employment market?

It’s not the glaring problems that sink most CVs but the easy-to-overlook mistakes. These days, recruiters search through huge databases of CVs to find suitable candidates. You have to make sure your CV gets found and hits the mark. Some candidates spend more time planning an interview outfit than writing their new CV. You can avoid the CV writing stage of your job application and start planning what you are going to say at the interview. However, with a poor CV, there won’t be an interview. Sad but true.

So, what are some of the most common CV mistakes? Below is a checklist of some of the most typical mistakes. If you have any concerns or feel uncertain about whether you have included everything necessary in your CV, why not get Career Consultants to examine your CV? Success is just around the corner if you work on avoiding the common blunders that many people make on their Curriculum Vitae.

Having a general Curriculum Vitae: Ten years ago, it was okay to have a one-size-fits-all approach to your CV, but with today’s even more competitive job market, what’s needed is a ‘couture’ CV that you can update and alter to emphasize how you can help each particular organisation. A standard CV sends the message that you are desperate to take any job. A Curriculum Vitae that has been adapted towards a specific job shows that you have thought carefully about how you can benefit the prospective hiring manager. With effort and time invested in selecting your abilities and by concentrating on the organisation and not yourself, you will communicate your sales message effectively.

Not addressing the job advertisement requirements: If you are in a hurry, you may be tempted to ignore the specific job requirements listed in the advertisement. Many people assume they can elaborate on their skills at the interview without considering whether they will even get an interview. Read the ad carefully and notice the hiring manager’s subtle requests. What personal qualities is the company looking for? What skills are listed as indispensable? Has the employer asked for specific factual needs? Have you highlighted them in your Curriculum Vitae? Does your CV respond to all of the prospective recruiter’s needs?

Going into too much detail: The ideal length for a CV is two or three pages, depending on your experience. It may be shorter if you have recently left college or university.

Placing details in the wrong order: Your introduction is one of the most vital parts of the Curriculum Vitae. Many job hunters hide their personal details at the end of the CV, while others frequently omit specifics like age, marital status, and contact details. The offer is crucial in terms of CV writing, but most applicants choose to overwhelm the reader with personal profile sections, career history, and education. Job hunters forget to detail what they have to offer. Therefore, the most important part of the CV is the capability section. What are you offering? Have you clearly outlined your level of proficiency and competence? Have you done everything you can to entice and reassure your reader that an investment in your skills is an excellent decision?

Focusing too much on your educational background: Your academic qualifications should help deliver your CV at the appropriate level but must not distract the hiring manager from your skills and employment track record.

Including irrelevant information: The recruiter is interested in how you can benefit the organisation rather than what you do at weekends. It is essential that you keep your Curriculum Vitae focused on job-related matters.

Get one final look at your Curriculum Vitae: Does it sell your benefits to prospective employers? Does it read like a proposal rather than just a long list of past accomplishments? Will it help you obtain a new position? Do you think your CV demonstrates how you can add value to an organisation? Please CLICK HERE for a qualified Curriculum Vitae assessment.