5 CV Red Flags That Might Disqualify You For That Job

By Perminus Wainaina

Have you sent your CV numerous times to be considered for a job opportunity you think you qualify for and end up not receiving any feedback? What could be wrong?

Is your CV making the right impression on a potential employer?

When employers receive hundreds of applications for a job, they aren’t initially spending much time combing through CVs to look for the most qualified candidates. Instead, they’re going to spend their time looking for red flags that will eliminate candidates from consideration.

Which red flags are they looking for, and how can you make sure that you keep your CV out of the shredder?

Red Flags & What You Can Do To Fix Them 

1. Employment Gaps

A couple of weeks ago, I spoke to Roseline, who has been unsuccessfully looking for a job for slightly over a year. She studied Bachelor of Science in Procurement and Logistics. After graduation, she went on a five-month job search journey without any luck. She eventually got a job with a logistics company. She gave the job her best, and the management noticed her efforts and promoted her to a supervisory role.

In July last year, she quit her job to take care of her ailing mother. Her mother regained her good health, and Roseline thought this would be a good opportunity for her to get back into the employment game.

With her experience and achievements, she thought it would be easy to land another job. Her job search has been further worsened by the ongoing pandemic. 

“At first, I was eyeing supervisory and managerial roles. But after a while, I started applying for entry-level procurement jobs. Still no success. I resorted to applying for any job I could find, I no longer cared about the field it was in… over a year later, I am still unemployed. Not even an interview invite has come my way. 

Could it be because of the employment history gap on my CV? Do I stand a chance at getting a job as compared to those who have been in the job market most recently? Also, is it possible for me to cover the gap in my CV and at the end of the day make it look appealing to a potential employer?”

Gaps can be a huge CV red flag. However, with the numerous layoffs that have come as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, employers are more understanding about the situation. Employment gaps of significance may, however, still leave a potential employer with questions that you may need to answer when invited for an interview. 

How To Fix This: There are two ways to go about employment gaps: explain the gap or fill in the employment gap with experience you received outside of traditional employment. If you took time off due to illness, caretaking, or other emergencies, mention this in your CV or cover letter. 

If you were unemployed for a prolonged amount of time, consider what you did during that time. If you volunteered or worked on community projects, put that in your CV. If you took up an unpaid internship, list it in your work history as well. Also, if you participated in training, or online learning, mention that in your cover letter. This shows that you spent the gap time wisely, bettering yourself and improving your value to employers – which an employer is certain to appreciate!

2. Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation Challenged CVs

Typos and grammatical errors in your CV are likely to disqualify you from consideration. 77% of employers identify typos or bad grammar as an “instant” deal-breaker.

How To Fix This: Have multiple people, preferably those who have experience checking for typos and grammar, proofread your CV several times. Additionally, you could consult a professional CV writer who will be able to not only look out for spelling and grammar errors but give you advice on crafting a perfect CV. 

3. Lack of CV Customization for Your Job Posting

Just last week, Kevin visited our offices. He has over 5 years of experience in accounting. In the last 8 months, he’s been actively applying for jobs but not getting any interview. Rarely does he hear back from employers, and when he does, it’s a regret message.

He wanted to know what he was doing wrong. He feels he has all the qualifications needed to succeed in his career but is not. 

I took just one look at Kevin’s CV and realized that it was the document that was letting him down throughout his applications. He was using the same CV to apply for every job he thought he qualified for. 

Truth is, failure to customize your CV is a red flag for employers.

How To Fix This: Customize your CV based on each position you apply for. When you customize your CV, you can tell the potential employer that you have researched and understood their company and business. This way, you can exhibit knowledge of the company’s customers and products, and even know how you can contribute to the organization. 

4. Lack of Examples

There is a saying among writers that one should “show, not tell”. This applies to your CV as well. 

Keep in mind that an employer is looking through hundreds of CVs, with almost every candidate talking about why they should be hired. 

How To Fix This: What sticks in the minds of employers is what you have done or are doing. For example, if you are a salesperson, instead of saying you are a dedicated salesperson, talk about how you developed a new marketing concept that increased top-line revenue by 20% in just one year!

If you are an operations manager who is particularly passionate about safety, talk about the safety programs you implemented and their impact on your accident rate or productivity. 

This will go a long way in showing a potential employer that you have what it takes to do the job you have applied for. 

5. Evidence Your Career Has Gone Backwards or Plateaued

If you held a senior position but your rank later dropped in recent positions, then that is a clear red flag to the potential employer. Some employers may want to know why that was and invite you to an interview for that reason, while others will prefer to choose someone consistent.

I met a professional who suffered a demotion and had to do away with the senior position from her CV altogether because she couldn’t get a job. 

This does, however, not mean that you should lie about your qualifications; it is about knowing what will work and what will not. 

How To Fix This: Explain your responsibility differences or the appearance of a career going backward in your CV or cover letter. If you are not sure of how to do this, consult with a career coach.

Conclusion

CV red flags aren’t necessarily grounds for instantly disqualifying candidates. However, they may give your potential employer more insight into you, as a candidate and whether you would be a good fit for their company.

If you are unsure of whether your CV contains any red flags, reach out to a professional CV writer for a FREE CV Review.