When you send out your CV, you probably assume it’s polished enough to impress hiring managers—but often, there are hidden pitfalls that can cost you interviews. If you want your CV to succeed, you may need more than a quick proofread or generic template; many job‑seekers benefit from the services of a Professional CV Writing Company In Uk to iron out issues they hadn’t noticed. In this post, I’ll walk you through common CV mistakes people often don’t realise they’re making, why these errors matter, and concrete steps you can take to fix them.

1. Including Generic or Overused Phrases

What goes wrong:

Phrases like “hardworking,” “team player,” “go‑getter,” or “excellent communication skills” show up so often that they lose impact. In fact, UK advice sites like Prospects warn that over‑used, vague phrases make your CV blend in rather than stand out.

How to fix it:

·        Replace generic attributes with concrete examples. For instance, instead of “excellent communication skills,” say something like, “led weekly cross‑team meetings to resolve client issues, reducing turnaround time by 20%.”

·        Use metrics whenever possible—percentages, numbers, or measurable outcomes make your achievements tangible.

·        Tailor these examples to the role you’re applying for; match language from the job description where you truly can.

2. Not Tailoring Your CV to Each Job

What goes wrong:

A one‑size‑fits‑all CV may seem efficient, but employers and recruiters trust tailored CVs much more. If your CV doesn’t reflect the requirements of the specific role, it may look lazy or irrelevant. Indeed UK cautions that including irrelevant work experience or skills can lead to your CV being passed over.

How to fix it:

·        Before applying, list the key skills and experiences a job advert emphasises. Compare those with what you include.

·        Reorder or emphasise sections so that the most relevant experience appears first.

·        Remove or abbreviate legacy experience (old jobs or irrelevant roles) unless they add transferable skills.

3. Poor Formatting & Visual Clutter

What goes wrong:

A CV that’s hard to read (due to inconsistent fonts, irregular spacing, variety of font sizes, over‑crowded layout) can make recruiters give up before they even reach your achievements. Robert Walters notes that formatting errors are among top reasons CVs are discarded.

How to fix it:

·        Use one or two clean, professional fonts (for example, Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman). Keep size consistent for body text, use a slightly larger size for section headings.

·        Use bullet points, headings, and white space to break up blocks of text.

·        Keep margins at a reasonable size so your CV doesn’t look cramped; avoid trying to fit everything into one page by shrinking fonts or margins too much.

4. Leaving Unexplained Gaps or Overemphasising Unimportant Details

What goes wrong:

Gaps in employment, or periods of unreported inactivity, often raise red flags. Similarly, including too much detail about part‑time or student roles that aren’t relevant can dilute the impact of your stronger experience. UK career advice (for example Hays and Prospects) highlight that unexplained gaps or overlong CVs are common mistakes.

How to fix it:

·        If you have periods where you were not working or studying, briefly note what you did (e.g. volunteering, courses, travel). Honesty matters.

·        For earlier experience (say university or early jobs) focus on skills acquired that are still relevant today; summarise or condense less relevant items.

·        Keep your CV length sensible: generally 1‑2 pages for most roles (longer may be acceptable for academic or specialised fields).

5. Typos, Grammar Mistakes & Inconsistent Details

What goes wrong:

Even small spelling errors, inconsistent tense (mixing past and present), incorrect dates or missing contact information can make your CV look sloppy. Employers use such mistakes as signals that you may not pay attention to detail. Indeed UK warns specifically about improper contact info and length issues.

How to fix it:

·        Proofread carefully. Use spell‑check tools, but don’t rely solely on them—reading your CV aloud or having someone else review it helps catch mistakes.

·        Be consistent with formatting: use same date formats, same bullet style, same layout throughout.

·        Double‑check your contact details (email, phone number) and ensure your email address sounds professional. Avoid nicknames or funny handles.

6. Not Showing Your Achievements

What goes wrong:

Many CVs list duties or responsibilities rather than what the person accomplished. Recruiters want to see impact, not just what you were “responsible for.” The University of Greenwich emphasises that showing what you achieved (not just what you did) helps you stand out.

How to fix it:

·        Think in terms of outcomes: “improved,” “reduced,” “increased,” “led,” etc.

·        Use data wherever possible: “increased sales by 15%,” “reduced processing time by two days.”

·        Where measurable data aren’t available, use qualitative description: “managed team of X people,” “delivered project under budget.”

7. Misusing Objectives or Profile Statements

What goes wrong:

Some CVs start with a generic objective (“seeking a position with a dynamic company…”) which adds little value. Others have profile summaries that are vague or not tailored. UK guidance suggests replacing generic objectives with meaningful profile sections.

How to fix it:

·        If you use a profile/summary, make it brief (3‑5 lines), focused on what you bring and what you aim to do, aligned with the role.

·        Drop or rework objective statements that sound generic or unclear.

·        Use the job title or role you seek, but only if consistent with your skills/experience.

Final Thoughts

Your CV is almost always your first chance to make a good impression. The mistakes above are common—and many people never realise they’re undermining their own applications. By being more intentional about how you present your skills, achievements and experiences, and paying attention to detail, you can give your CV a much better chance of standing out for all the right reasons.

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