---
title: "10 CV Mistakes That Cost You Interviews"
excerpt: "Avoid these common pitfalls that recruiters see every day — from vague bullet points to missing keywords."
date: "2026-03-05"
readTime: "5 min read"
tag: "Tips"
---

Your CV is your first impression — and for most roles, it's also your _only_ shot at getting noticed. Yet thousands of applicants torpedo their chances with easily avoidable errors.

## 1. Vague Bullet Points

"Responsible for managing a team" tells the reader nothing. Instead, quantify:

> Managed a cross-functional team of 8, delivering 3 product launches on schedule and 12% under budget.

## 2. Missing Keywords

Modern recruitment relies on ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems). If your CV doesn't contain the keywords from the job description, it may never reach a human. Mirror the language in the listing — if they say "stakeholder management", use that phrase.

## 3. One CV for Every Job

A generic CV is a weak CV. Tailor your summary and top bullet points for each application. It takes 10 minutes and dramatically increases callback rates.

## 4. Typos and Grammar Errors

Nothing signals carelessness faster. Run your CV through a spell-checker, then read it aloud. Better still, have someone else proofread it.

## 5. Including a Photo or Personal Details

In the UK, recruiters expect no photo, no date of birth, and no marital status. Including them wastes space and can introduce unconscious bias.

## 6. Going Over Two Pages

For most professionals, two pages is the maximum. Senior executives might stretch to three, but a graduate should aim for one. Edit ruthlessly.

## 7. Using an Unprofessional Email Address

`cooldude99@hotmail.com` doesn't belong on a CV. Set up a simple `firstname.lastname@gmail.com` if you don't have one.

## 8. Listing Duties Instead of Achievements

Recruiters want to see _impact_, not job descriptions they already know. Frame every bullet as: Action → Result → Metric.

## 9. Poor Formatting

Walls of text, inconsistent fonts, and missing section headers make your CV hard to scan. Use clear headings, consistent spacing, and bullet points.

## 10. Forgetting to Update Contact Details

It happens more often than you'd think. Always double-check your phone number, email, and LinkedIn URL before submitting.

---

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