10 CV mistakes that cost you interviews (and how to fix them)

Recruiters read dozens of CVs a day, and small mistakes are often the reason a strong candidate is never called. Here are the ten most common ones and how to fix each.

1. Spelling and grammar mistakes

Typos look careless, especially for roles that need attention to detail. Read the CV aloud, check it with a spell checker and ask someone else to read it.

2. An unprofessional email or a wrong phone number

Create a simple email from your name and double-check every digit of your phone. A recruiter will not search for another way to reach you.

3. Duties instead of achievements

“Responsible for the warehouse” tells little. “Reduced stock discrepancies from 4% to 0.5%” shows your value. Add numbers: money, percentages, people, time.

4. Missing or unclear dates

Give a month and year for each job and education. Gaps without dates make recruiters suspicious; a short explanation (study, family, relocation) is better than nothing.

5. Too long or too dense

One or two pages is enough. Remove old and irrelevant jobs, keep 3–5 bullets per role and leave white space so the CV is easy to scan.

6. One CV for every vacancy

Adapt the title, summary and top bullets to each job. Use words from the vacancy — many companies filter CVs with ATS systems that look for them.

7. Inconsistent formatting

Different fonts, sizes and date formats make a CV look messy. A ready template keeps everything consistent automatically.

8. A poor photo

Selfies, group photos, sunglasses and busy backgrounds hurt the first impression. Use a recent portrait on a plain background — or no photo if the vacancy asks for none.

9. Sending a file that breaks

A Word document can look different on the recruiter's computer, and a phone screenshot is hard to read. Send a PDF with a clear file name: Name_Surname_CV.pdf. Provide Word only when the company asks for it.

10. Exaggerating

Inflated titles, fake language levels and invented skills come out in the interview or during the probation period. Be confident, but honest — show real results instead.

Quick fix

• Read the CV once just for typos and once just for numbers.
• Check that every job has dates and at least one measurable result.
• Export to PDF and open the file on your phone to see what the recruiter will see.