Simple CV mistakes to avoid making in your job search

With the new year approaching, many people will be starting to think about their next career move. The first task is making sure your CV is up to date. So, we thought we’d list the top CV mistakes that we commonly see on applicants’ CVs.

We’ve enlisted the help of Team Orange’s wealth of knowledge and experience to create a list of CV mistakes you should not be replicating...

Forgetting to add or update your contact details

You’d be surprised how many times we see this. Just a Linkedin profile URL is not enough, make sure both your mobile number & email address are on there.

Oldest first career history

Always remember to start with your most recent job. It's usually the most relevant experience you have! No potential employer wants to trawl through what you did 10 year ago before they get to read about your most recent role!

Spelling errors

Take it from us, this is one of the most inexcusable mistakes. Always remember to use capital letters where appropriate (your name) and spell check tool. We have had more than a few misspelt Shift Managers over the years...

Exaggerating your achievements (or in some cases, blatantly making stuff up)

It's always important to remember that when applying for a job, employers reference check to ensure what you're saying can be verified. It's also important to remember that if you are moving jobs within the same industry, chances are your employer or new colleagues will have links with other businesses in your network - so there's a good chance you'll be found out!

Out-of-date CVs with no dates of employment

In today's fast-moving market businesses need to know potential employers are organised and, on the ball, so an old cv is definitely not a good look.

Large gaps in your work history

If you've had a period of unemployment, don't avoid it. Acknowledge employment gaps on your CV, be honest about what you were doing and list as an experience, either describing how it will aid you in the role you are applying for or outlining reasons - eg illness etc.

Dates of employment that don't add up

Remember, most potential employers will fact-check your CV online, often comparing it with your LinkedIn profile to see if it matches up.

Failing to highlight your achievements

Failing to effectively evidence your skills, achievements and experiences can be a big mistake. Always remember to add responsibilities and what differences you feel you made.

Adding headshots

This is one that we've been seeing more of recently. No one will be judging you on the way you look when it comes to your CV. A photo is not needed, even though in some countries outside the UK, a headshot is considered commonplace.

Hopefully, we've helped you avoid making a few key mistakes when applying for your next job. Of course, there's more to applying for a job than just perfecting your CV, for example, perfecting your LinkedIn profile. Luckily for you, we've created a LinkedIn cheat sheet to help you. Still need help with your job hunt? Register with us.