12 Common CV Mistakes (and How to Fix Each One)
A great CV is often just an average CV with the mistakes removed. These are the twelve errors we see most often, and the quick fix for each.
1–4: Content mistakes
The first four mistakes are the ones that quietly cost the most interviews, because they're about substance, not polish. First, a vague summary: replace "hard-working professional seeking opportunities" with what you actually do and the specific value you bring. Second, listing duties instead of achievements — turn "responsible for managing social media" into a result with a number, like "grew Instagram engagement 45% in six months." Third, no keywords from the job: if you don't mirror the posting's language, an ATS ranks you below candidates who do, so weave in the exact terms that honestly apply to you. Fourth, too long: recruiters skim, so keep it to one or two pages of relevant, recent experience and cut anything older than ten years or unrelated to the role. Fix these four and your CV already beats most of the pile — the formatting and detail fixes below do the rest.
5–8: Formatting mistakes
Fancy templates that break in an ATS — use a clean, single-column layout. Inconsistent dates and fonts — pick one format and stick to it. Tiny margins and walls of text — give it breathing room. Photos and graphics where they're not expected — when in doubt, leave them out.
9–12: Detail mistakes
Typos and grammar errors — proofread, then have someone else read it. Outdated or missing contact info — double-check your email and links. A generic CV for every job — tailor it each time. No measurable impact — add numbers wherever you honestly can.
Fix them in minutes
write.cv flags many of these automatically through its ATS score and section structure. Load your CV, check the score, and fix the highlighted issues before you apply.