Recruitment: The 10 mistakes to avoid on your CV

In an increasingly uncertain and competitive job market, perfecting your CV is becoming an obligatory step. The CV represents the first contact with the recruiter, it is therefore essential to pay very particular attention to both the form and the substance. Today, we show you the ten biggest mistakes to avoid.

Mistake #1: Not filling out your LinkedIn profile

Your LinkedIn profile must appear in the “contact details” section at the top of your CV. Employers are looking for people who are serious about progressing in their careers. Your LinkedIn profile should convey this impression to them. Your first mission is therefore to optimize your professional network and proudly present your achievements.

It is also recommended to update your profile regularly. Remember that your CV must contain relevant information that relates to the job in question. Your LinkedIn profile, for its part, must address a wider audience and detail as much as possible your career path, your achievements and your skills.

Mistake #2: Not giving enough detail to your soft skills (know-how) and hard skills (know-how)

Your know-how is linked to your knowledge and your technical training, your mastery of Photoshop or Excel for example, while your soft skills are rather linked to professional traits (listening, leadership, effective management working time etc.). That said, you need to find a fair balance between your soft skills And hard skills when writing your CV.

Jennifer Roquemore, CEO of Resume Writing Services, announces CNBC Make it : “ CVs flooded with soft skills are dubious and often dishonest. When recruiters only see soft skills to the detriment of hard skills, this raises red flags. On the other hand, only mentioning hard skills, without referring to your soft skills, can give the impression that you are a one-dimensional candidate. »

Mistake #3: Writing a poorly worded CV title

Your title must appear at the top of the CV, under your contact details. The keywords in the title should immediately indicate to recruiters whether you are the ideal candidate for the position. If you apply for a “Senior Brand Manager” position for example and your CV is titled “Brand Marketing Manager”, you put all the chances on your side so that recruiters will be interested in your profile.

On the other hand, if your CV is titled “Social Media Manager”, recruiters may still consider taking a look (if there are similarities between the two jobs), but they won’t be as convinced that you’re a good fit. perfectly suited to their profile.

Mistake #4: Designing an overloaded and “flashy” CV

Some recruiters cannot tolerate CVs overloaded with information and colors. If you think you stand out by focusing on form, you simply risk losing valuable points.

Keep in mind that only your profile will make the difference. It’s generally best to keep the format simple, meaning black and white text, clean lines, and a consistent typeface. On the other hand, in certain sectors, such as graphic design or advertising, your CV can reflect your level of creativity and your ability to carry out graphic design missions relating to the position. Don’t overdo it though.

Mistake #5: Neglecting writing and grammar

Here are some mistakes to avoid when writing your CV:

• Use first person personal pronouns: “I”, “my” and “me” should be banned from your CV.
• Spelling numbers: In addition to taking up a lot of space, it is difficult for recruiters to remember long sentences. The best thing is to write down your achievements in numbers.
• Not respecting conjugation tenses: this may seem basic, but it is a mistake made by many candidates. Use the present tense when describing current assignments and the past for your past jobs/internships.

Mistake #6: Using passive voice

In a sentence in the passive voice, the subject undergoes the action of the main verb. Resumes written in the passive voice can make reading less fluid and boring in some cases. Indeed, the sentences will be vague, which risks distracting the recruiter. It is therefore strongly recommended to use the active voice accompanied by action verbs.

Example : Passive voice: “Turnover growth of 5% achieved within our team over three years. »
Active voice: “our team achieved revenue growth of 5% over three years. »

Mistake #7: Creating a CV that is poorly organized and difficult to navigate

A black and white CV with clear headings and spaces will stand out more than an excessively colorful or cluttered CV.

The ideal for your CV is to be easy to read while respecting a balance of space and font standardization. You can put in bold and capital letters the elements that you consider important. When listing details under a section, it is best to use bullet points (instead of numbers or letters).

Mistake #8: Building a CV that’s too long

Your CV should not exceed one page. Recruiters spend an average of 11 seconds on a CV. It is therefore essential to present them with a readable and visually pleasing CV. If you send him a two-page CV, you can be sure that he won’t come back to you.

On the other hand, if you are applying in Germany or for a management position, in these cases you can afford to send a two-page CV.