Applying for a job: The six biggest mistakes we make on our CV

Employers spend an average of just seven seconds looking at a candidate’s resume, so a quick glance can determine their future, as James Reed, president of the recruiting firm The Reed Group, points out to Bloomberg.

Here are the most “shaky” mistakes you should avoid in your CV:

How big should it be?

The top tip from experts is this: the resume should be short. This means ideally for an employer it should be between two and three pages, while according to Gaelle Blake of staffing firm Hays, the best size is two and a half pages, where one can be thorough without putting in unnecessary information. Especially when candidates also provide their LinkedIn account, long resumes are unnecessary and tedious for the employer reviewing them.

What is the best format?

A big mistake is formatting that makes the resume difficult to read. Yes, using a particular font or background can bring out the candidate’s personality, but if it makes the resume hard to read, then employers are discouraged. Arial or Calibri are ideal fonts, according to Blake.

What is the best categorization?

It would be best to avoid haphazardly listing your most recent accomplishments and instead properly categorize your history into work experience and education columns, for example. Reed, speaking to Bloomberg, suggests a “classic” resume template, where work experience is listed from most recent to oldest, followed by education in a corresponding fashion.

Should you put hobbies and interests?

The subject is divided among experts, but they agree that everything on a resume should be relevant to the position you’re applying for. Blake is generally in favor of recording hobbies, saying they “can be extremely important and relevant,” provided they are used in the right way. If you’re not sure, it’s a good idea to think about how it strengthens your position for that particular job.

What subject should you put in the email?

First of all when you send an email with your resume attached to an organization it should definitely have a title/subject. According to Shelley Crane of staffing firm Robert Half, write first that it’s an application and then the name of the position you’re sending for. But if you want to get your name out there, just make sure you’re interested in what field of activity you’re interested in as well. She notes that the best tactic would be to contact these organizations first and then send applications.

Do I need a cover letter?

If the cover letter does not include any additional information in relation to the CV or does not give a personal touch, then it is probably unnecessary and you can skip it completely. While it’s not required for all positions, Reed emphasizes to Bloomberg that it shows you’ve gone the extra mile and can leave a good impression.

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