Why small mistakes matter so much
In the first stage of selection, a recruiter isn't looking for the best candidate: they are looking for reasons to turn a pile of applications into a short list. With dozens or hundreds of CVs per job ad, anything that makes reading harder or raises a doubt becomes a good reason to move on to the next one.
The good news is that almost every mistake on this list can be fixed in a few minutes. We've ordered them starting with the ones we see most often.
1. A profile that could describe anyone
"Positive, dynamic, results-driven person with excellent teamwork skills." Recruiters read this sentence dozens of times a day and it tells them nothing about you.
How to fix it: state your role, years of experience, specialisation and one concrete fact.
- Before: "Motivated professional with experience in sales."
- After: "Sales agent with 6 years in the furniture industry, managing 45 retailers across the region; grew territory revenue by 18% in 2025."
2. Listing duties instead of results
"Cash handling", "customer service", "stock replenishment": these are tasks anyone in that role does. The recruiter wants to understand how you did them and with what effect.
How to fix it: use an action verb and add context or a result.
- Before: "Supplier order management."
- After: "Managed orders from 30 suppliers in the ERP system, reducing stock-outs by 25%."
If you don't have numbers, use volumes, frequency or responsibility: "daily cash-up for a store processing 400 transactions a day".
3. The same CV for every job ad
A generic CV is designed for everyone, so it's perfect for no one. Above all, it may not contain the keywords the recruiter searches for in the recruiting software.
How to fix it: keep a complete CV as your base and, for each application, adapt the title, profile and order of your experience. Ten minutes is enough.
4. A layout software can't read
Nested tables, text boxes, icons instead of words, text inside images: an ATS (Applicant Tracking System) may read your CV in the wrong order or skip whole sections. When the recruiter searches for "Excel" or "accounting", you don't show up.
How to fix it: choose a single-column structure, standard headings ("Work experience", "Education", "Skills") and common fonts. A practical test: open the PDF, select all the text and paste it into a text editor. If the order makes sense, your CV is readable.
5. Bars, stars and percentages for skills
"English ★★★☆☆", "Photoshop 70%". What does 70% mean? The reader doesn't know, and software can't interpret it.
How to fix it: for languages, use the European levels (A1-C2) or a certificate (e.g. "Spanish C1, DELE"). For tools, say what you can do: "Excel: pivot tables, XLOOKUP, dynamic charts".
6. Too long (or too short)
Three or four pages listing every course since 2008 dilute the important information. At the other extreme, half a page with three lines of experience suggests a CV written in a hurry.
How to fix it: one page if you have less than 5-7 years of experience, two at most if you have more. Old, irrelevant roles can be reduced to one line or removed.
7. Typos and inconsistencies
A typo in the name of the company you're applying to, dates written in three different formats, bullet points that sometimes end with a full stop and sometimes don't. They seem like details, but they signal a lack of care, especially for roles where precision matters.
How to fix it: use a spell-checker, then read the CV aloud and ask someone else to read it. Choose one date format (e.g. "03/2024 - 09/2025") and use it everywhere.
8. Unprofessional email and contact details
"partyqueen94@..." or a phone number with one wrong digit can cost you the call. The same goes for a broken LinkedIn link or an empty profile.
How to fix it: use an address like firstname.lastname@..., double-check your number and links, and make sure your LinkedIn profile matches your CV (same dates, same roles).
9. Unnecessary or sensitive personal data
National ID numbers, marital status, number of children, date and place of birth, a driving licence when it's not needed: they take up space and aren't relevant to the selection. In some cases they can even expose you to bias. In the UK and the US, personal details like age and photo are normally left out entirely.
How to fix it: name, city, phone, email and professional links are enough. Mention your driving licence if the job involves travel.
10. Unexplained gaps
A one-year gap isn't a problem in itself. It becomes one when the recruiter has to guess what happened.
How to fix it: add a short, neutral line: "2024 - Sabbatical: travel in Australia and C1 English course", "2023 - Family caregiving", "2025 - Training: data analysis course (120 hours)". You don't need to justify yourself, just give context.
11. Exaggerating or inventing
Inflating a title ("Marketing Manager" for an internship), claiming fluent English you don't have, or presenting team results as personal ones. It almost always comes out in the interview or reference checks, and at that point the application is lost.
How to fix it: describe your real contribution precisely ("I handled the data analysis part of the project"). A small but true result is worth more than a big invented one.
12. The wrong file name or format
"CV_new_final_2.docx", a Pages file the recruiter can't open, or a photo of a printed CV. Before even reading it, the recruiter has a negative impression.
How to fix it: send a PDF (unless asked otherwise) named "Firstname_Lastname_CV.pdf". If the portal asks you to fill in fields manually, do it carefully even if you've uploaded your CV: those fields are often what the recruiter filters on.
How to check your CV in 5 minutes
- Read only the profile: is it clear what role you want?
- Scan your experience: does every role include at least one concrete result?
- Compare with the job ad: do the required skills (that you have) appear in the text?
- Copy the PDF text into a text editor: is it in order?
- Check contact details, links, dates and the file name.
If you'd like to start from a solid base, WizardsCV offers ATS-friendly templates and guided sections, and you can download your PDF for free, with no sign-up.
Frequently asked questions
What is the worst mistake on a CV?
Not tailoring it to the job ad. A generic CV often lacks the keywords the recruiter is searching for and doesn't highlight the most relevant experience, even when the candidate has it.
Can a typo get my CV rejected?
Rarely on its own, but it counts: it signals a lack of attention. For roles where precision and written communication are central, it can be decisive. Proofreading takes only a few minutes.
How do I explain a career gap on my CV?
With a short, neutral line describing what you did: training, family reasons, travel, an active job search. You don't need to justify yourself; just avoid leaving the recruiter to imagine it.
