Most CVs are rejected for the same avoidable reasons. Fix these and you'll immediately improve your hit rate. Use this alongside how to write a CV.
1. Listing duties, not achievements
"Responsible for X" tells an employer nothing about impact. Fix: quantify results with action verbs and numbers.
2. A generic, untailored CV
The same CV for every role underperforms. Fix: tailor the profile, skills and emphasis to each advert.
3. Poor formatting
Cluttered layouts and inconsistent spacing hurt readability and ATS parsing. Fix: clean structure, clear headings, consistent formatting, PDF.
4. Too long or too short
Rambling or thin CVs both lose. Fix: two pages (one early-career), every line relevant.
5. Typos and errors
They signal carelessness. Fix: proofread carefully and check names and dates.
6. Not ATS-friendly
Fancy templates, tables and graphics can break parsing. Fix: follow our ATS-friendly CV guide.
7. No keywords from the advert
If your CV doesn't reflect the role's language, it won't rank. Fix: mirror the advert's key skills — Job Intelligence™ shows you which.
Practise what you've learned
Turn this into a stronger CV now. CV Optimisation checks your CV against a specific role, and Job Intelligence™ decodes exactly which skills and keywords the vacancy wants so you can mirror them. Build the evidence behind your CV in your Career Passport™.
The mistakes that quietly cost interviews
- Duties, not results. "Responsible for X" tells a recruiter nothing. Lead with impact and numbers.
- One generic CV for every role. Untailored CVs rarely pass either the ATS or the recruiter's 7-second scan.
- Typos and inconsistent formatting. They signal carelessness; proofread and read aloud.
- Fancy layouts. Columns, tables, headers/footers and graphics break many parsers.
- Too long or too vague. Two pages maximum, every line earning its place.
How to catch them
Read your CV against the actual job advert: does it mirror the priorities and terminology? Then check each bullet starts with an action and ends with a result. An AI CV optimisation tool flags weak bullets and missing keywords fast.
Fix the fundamentals first
Most rejections aren't about experience — they're about presentation and tailoring. Nail the basics in our how to write a CV guide before worrying about anything advanced.