Your CV Will Get Rejected! Here’s How To Stop That From Happening
By Ruoro Kairu
10 Seconds! That’s how long an employer takes to look at your CV. After this, the employer decides if they’ll toss it aside, or if they’ll look at it for a minute or longer.
So, how do your CV pass this 10-second rule?
That’s what Dorothy wanted to find out. She has been applying for jobs for two years. Rarely does she hear back from employers, and when she does, it’s a regret message.
Dorothy wanted to know what she is doing wrong. She feels she has all the qualifications needed to succeed in her career.
Why isn’t Dorothy successful in her job search and what can she do to change this?
I spoke to a professional CV writer, here is what they had to share.
“There are multiple reasons why a hiring manager would reject your CV. While each CV has a few unique mistakes, there are some mistakes we’ve seen so many times. If a professional can take care of these mistakes, they can exponentially increase their chances of being called in for an interview.”
So what are these mistakes that could have your CV being rejected?
1. Failing to highlight your achievements
Take a look through your CV. When you get to the ‘Working Experience,’ what can you note? In most cases, professionals list their day to day duties at their previous jobs.
Yes, an employer does want to know what you were doing previously. Beyond that, however, they are looking to know what you achieved.
When writing your CV, list the most integral bits of your daily tasks. After that, list the achievements you had while working there.
When you list your achievements, you show the employer what you have done before, and the value you can add should they bring you on board.
2. Including too much personal information
When sending your CV, you want to sell as much of your professional side as possible. Unfortunately, many professionals end up sharing too much personal information.
For example, you’ll see a CV that starts with a name, age, nationality, gender, residence, marital status, and so on. When you do this, you’re giving the employer an opportunity to reject your CV based on preference or personal information you’ve shared.
For instance, an employer could have a bias against married employees. When you state that you are, indeed, married, they could use this fact to discriminate and reject your CV. Instead, you should let your skills and qualifications speak on your behalf.
What personal information is okay? When writing a professional CV, ideally list your full official name, your telephone, and email contact details. That’s it! The rest, let the employer learn about after they have been impressed by your professional qualities.
3. Failing to show your skills and competencies
One key segment of your CV is the skills section. I spoke a recruiter who termed this section as your ‘key selling point.’
Ideally, you want to sell your key skills from your past. Go through your CV, pick up the different skills you’ve gained through your professional experience and list them here.
When you send your CV, you want the employer to quickly see why you are best suited for the job. Unless you do this, your CV will likely be rejected. Fortunately, with these tips, you’ll get to draft a professional CV.
For more assistance on drafting a professional CV, talk to our expert CV writers.