Common CV Mistakes That Could Cost You an Interview

It is thought that recruiters spend only seconds assessing a CV. You may think that this means you don’t need to make an effort with your CV, but the opposite is actually true. The fact that recruiters don’t generally pour over a CV for hours means that you can’t afford to make mistakes. Recruiters are busy, and with piles of CVs to go through, you have merely seconds to make a great impression.

As a professional CV writing service, we’ve seen many small but costly errors. Here are some common CV mistakes that could cost you an interview — and how to fix them.

Spelling and Grammatical Errors

Spelling and grammatical errors give the impression of a lack of professionalism and carelessness — a major red flag for recruiters. Your CV is a key professional document, so you should take time and care over it. Make sure you proofread your CV carefully before applying for any job. It’s even better to ask a trusted friend or a professional CV writer to review it.

Including Irrelevant Details

The recruiter doesn’t need to know how many children you have or your dog’s name — so leave these out. Irrelevant information on your CV can make you appear unfocused or unprofessional. Keep your CV concise, highlighting only skills, experience, and achievements relevant to the role.

Ignoring Keywords

Many organisations now use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to filter applications automatically. If your CV doesn’t include the right keywords, it may be rejected before a human even sees it.

To avoid this, use keywords from the job description — especially job titles, software tools, and core skills. For example, if PowerPoint or Excel is listed as an essential requirement, make sure it appears naturally in your CV.

Submitting a Generic CV

If you’re applying for multiple jobs, it can be tempting to send the same CV to every employer. However, a one-size-fits-all CV rarely works. Tailor your CV for each application by aligning your experience and achievements with the specific requirements of the role.

For instance, if you’re applying for marketing roles but your CV focuses heavily on sales, it may not appeal to hiring managers, and therefore, you may not reach the interview stage. A targeted CV always performs better than a generic one.

Job Hopping Without Explanation

Recruiters look for reliability and commitment. If your CV shows frequent job changes without explanation, it can raise concerns.

Be transparent — if you worked in short-term contracts, temporary roles, or were affected by redundancies, include this context on your CV. Recruiters won’t always follow up to ask for details, so it’s important to explain short tenures clearly.

At Inspired CVs, we provide professionally written and graphically designed CVs tailored to your individual career goals. Whether you’re applying for your first job or aiming for an executive role, we’ll help you create a standout CV that gets results.

Contact us today to learn more about our CV writing services, or order your new CV directly here.