11 Common CV Mistakes That Cost You Interviews

Recruiters spend an average of just a few seconds on each CV. In that time, small mistakes can quietly send strong candidates to the rejection pile. Here are the most common ones, and how to fix them.

1. Listing duties instead of achievements

*Managed a team* says nothing. Led a team of 6 to deliver a project 3 weeks early, cutting costs by 12% proves impact. Every bullet should show a result.

2. No numbers

If your CV has zero metrics, it reads like everyone else's. Add percentages, revenue, volumes, timeframes, and team sizes wherever you honestly can.

3. A generic, one-size-fits-all CV

Sending the same CV to every job is the single biggest reason for silence. Tailor your summary and top bullets to each role's keywords.

4. A weak or missing summary

The top third of your CV is prime real estate. Use a 2-3 line professional summary that states who you are, your strongest skills, and the value you bring.

5. Design that breaks ATS

Columns, text boxes, icons, and photos can scramble how software reads your CV. Keep the layout single-column and text-based. See our guide on ATS-friendly CVs.

6. Typos and inconsistent formatting

Misspellings signal carelessness. Inconsistent dates, fonts, and tenses signal the same. Proofread, then have someone else proofread.

7. Being too long

Most CVs should be one to two pages. Nobody needs your 2009 internship in full detail. Cut ruthlessly.

8. Vague, tired buzzwords

*Hard-working, team player, detail-oriented*, everyone claims these and nobody proves them. Replace adjectives with evidence.

9. Missing or hard-to-find contact details

Make sure your email, phone, and LinkedIn are current and easy to spot. Never bury them in a header the ATS ignores.

10. Unexplained gaps or confusing timelines

Use clear month-year dates. A brief, honest note on a gap beats a suspicious blank.

11. Never testing it

You cannot see your own blind spots. Run your CV through an analysis tool that scores it the way a recruiter's system does. CvLaunch flags these mistakes automatically and shows you what to fix, free, in seconds.