Common CV Mistakes That Can Weaken an Application

A strong CV should make it easy for an employer to understand your experience, qualifications and skills. Small errors, unclear formatting or outdated information can make that harder.

Most CV problems are straightforward to fix. A careful review before applying can help ensure your CV presents your experience clearly and accurately.

Spelling and Grammar Errors

Spelling and grammar mistakes can make a CV appear careless, even when the underlying experience is strong.

Do not rely entirely on a spellchecker. It may not identify correctly spelt words used incorrectly, such as "manger" instead of "manager."

Poor Formatting

A CV should be easy to read and scan. Common problems include inconsistent fonts, uneven spacing, misaligned dates and excessive use of formatting.

• Use a consistent font and heading style.
  
• Keep spacing between sections consistent.
  
• Present dates in the same format throughout.
  
• Use bold and italics selectively.
  

The aim is a clean, professional document rather than elaborate design.

Including Irrelevant Information

Prioritise information that helps an employer understand your suitability for the role.

Older or unrelated experience does not necessarily need to be removed, particularly if it demonstrates transferable skills, but it should not overwhelm more relevant experience. Avoid unnecessary personal information such as marital status or religion.

Example: For an Office Administrator role, detailed information about an unrelated job from many years ago should not take more space than recent administrative experience.

Missing or Underdeveloped Achievements

Listing only duties can make it difficult for an employer to understand the contribution you made in a role.

• Weak: "Responsible for handling customer complaints."
  
• Stronger: "Resolved an average of 15 customer complaints weekly while maintaining a customer satisfaction rating above 90%."
  

Where possible, describe the result of your work, not just the task.

Quick Tip: For each role, ask yourself: What did I accomplish, improve or contribute?

Outdated Contact Details

Make sure employers can reach you using the contact information on your CV.

Check your:

• Phone number
  
• Email address
  
• Other contact information you have provided
  

If your contact details change, update your SeyCareers profile so that your generated CV reflects the current information.

Using the Same CV for Every Role

Your SeyCareers CV is generated from the information in your profile, so you do not need to repeatedly rewrite your profile for individual applications.

Instead, keep your profile accurate and complete, with your full relevant experience, qualifications and skills. When you generate your CV, review whether the information clearly presents your background in relation to the role you are applying for.

Where the platform provides options to customise or adjust a CV, use them where appropriate. Do not add or change information simply to match a job advertisement if it is not accurate.

Reviewing Your CV Before You Apply

Before submitting an application, take a final look at the CV you intend to use.

Check that:

• Your contact details are correct.
  
• Job titles, employers and dates are accurate.
  
• Spelling and grammar are correct.
  
• Your most relevant experience is clear.
  
• Your qualifications and skills are properly reflected.
  
• The information is consistent with your SeyCareers profile.
  

If possible, ask someone you trust to read it as well. A fresh reader may notice something you have become accustomed to overlooking.

A good CV does not need to contain everything you have ever done. It needs to be accurate, clear, relevant and easy to understand.

Once your CV has been checked, browse current job vacancies in Seychelles and put it to work.