Recruiters often review dozens of CVs for a single role, so they look for reasons to narrow the pile. Many rejections have nothing to do with ability — they come from avoidable mistakes in content, formatting or attention to detail.
Content mistakes
- 1Listing duties instead of achievements. Fix: use "action verb + task + result" for every bullet.
- 2A generic profile. Fix: name the role you want and include a measurable achievement.
- 3Not tailoring to the job. Fix: adjust your profile, skills and top bullets for each application.
- 4No numbers. Fix: add quantities, percentages, budgets, team sizes or time saved.
- 5Including irrelevant old jobs in detail. Fix: summarise roles older than 10–15 years in one line.
- 6Clichés with no evidence ("team player", "hard-working"). Fix: show the behaviour in an example.
- 7Unexplained employment gaps. Fix: add a brief career-break line. See our employment gaps guide.
- 8Exaggerating or lying. Fix: be accurate — qualifications and dates are often verified.
Formatting mistakes
- 1Spelling and grammar errors. Fix: spell-check, read aloud, and ask someone else to proofread.
- 2Inconsistent dates and fonts. Fix: pick one date format and one font family.
- 3Dense blocks of text. Fix: use short bullets and white space.
- 4Too long or too short. Fix: see our CV length guide.
- 5Heavy graphics, columns and icons. Fix: use a clean ATS-friendly template.
- 6Contact details in the header area. Fix: put them in the main body of the page.
- 7A poorly named file like "CV_final_v3.docx". Fix: "Firstname-Lastname-CV.pdf".
Put this into practice
Build an ATS-friendly CV with live preview and free PDF download.
Personal detail mistakes
- 1An unprofessional email address. Fix: create a simple firstname.lastname address.
- 2Including unnecessary personal data (ID numbers, religion, marital status) where it is not local practice. Fix: check country norms.
- 3A casual or low-quality photo where photos are expected. Fix: use a clear, professional headshot — or none in countries where photos are not expected.
- 4Missing LinkedIn or a profile that contradicts your CV. Fix: align them. See our LinkedIn tips.
- 5Outdated contact details. Fix: double-check your phone number and email every time you update your CV.
A two-minute final check
- Is the job title you want visible in the top third of page one?
- Does every bullet start with a strong verb?
- Are there at least three numbers on page one?
- Is the file a text-based PDF with your name in the file name?
- Would a stranger understand what you do in ten seconds?
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common CV mistake?+
Describing duties instead of achievements. It makes strong candidates look average because the CV reads like a job description.
Will one typo get me rejected?+
Not always, but for roles that require attention to detail it can. Proofreading takes minutes and removes the risk.
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BuildCVFast Editorial Team
This guide is written and reviewed by the BuildCVFast editorial team using current hiring practices, published employer guidance and official government sources where relevant. We update our guides regularly. Read our editorial policy or send us a correction.