5 Problems Recruiters Spot Before They Read A Single Word
Working in recruitment has taught me many things, from mistakes to carelessness, you name it. Some mistakes are made by thousands of applicants in Kenya, this is to help you avoid them. A recruiter opens dozens of CVs for one role; each one gets a few seconds before a decision is made, and the decision often comes before the first bullet point.
The causes are small and easy to fix. Check your CV against these five problems today before sending it out for another application.
- Your file name looks careless
A file called “CV final 2” tells the recruiter you rushed. Save it as First name Lastname CV. The recruiter downloads it into a folder full of other files, so your name should be the first thing they see. A clean file name shows you pay attention to detail before they open a single page.
2. Your contact details look unprofessional
An old email address like “kingmike2009” costs you trust. Use a simple address built from your name. Add your phone number and a LinkedIn link.
Click the link yourself to confirm it opens your profile, because a broken link looks worse than no link at all.
3. Your paragraphs are too dense
A block of eight lines under each job gets skipped. Write short bullets of one or two lines each. Keep to five bullets per role and put the strongest one first. A recruiter reads the top of each section and often stops there, so your best work belongs in that spot.
4. Your dates do not match
One job says “March 2022”, and the next says “06/2023.” Pick one format and use it everywhere. “Mar 2022 to Jun 2023” works well. If you have a gap, explain it in one short line, such as “Career break to complete a CPA course.” A clear reason calms the doubt before it grows.
5. Your CV carries details it does not need
Drop your ID number, your photo, your marital status and your religion. They take up space and add nothing to your case. Use the room for results instead. Two pages is the limit for most roles, and a tight CV shows you know what matters.
Finally
These might look like small issues that you thing people probably don’t even check, but they might be the difference between being shortlisted and being rejected. Start with the file name and the email address. Both take two minutes. Then clean up your dates and shorten your bullets.
Small fixes keep a recruiter reading long enough to reach your achievements. If you want a second pair of eyes, send your CV to our CV experts today before you apply again.