Time is at a premium for recruiters, they may only have a few hours to go through a hundred job applications. For a CV to pass this first hurdle it must be well written, targeted at the job vacancy and match the employers requirements.

  • Give employers a reason to invite you for an interview.

Remember that recruiters who spend a whole day having to read through a stack of CVs can become tired and irritated, try to make their job easier. If they do not find your CV interesting enough or relevant within a minute of picking it up they are likely to reject it.

 

Reasons for CV rejection:

 

The experiences and achievements on your CV do not match the employers requirements.

You may be suitably qualified and experienced for the job but you have made that clear in your resume. Read the job advert carefully and make a list of all the employers requirements. Then write your CV so that it matches the required skills and work experience.

  • Regularly refer to the job description when writing your CV.

 

Visual layout.
You CV should be simple, organized and laid out logically so that key information can be found quickly. You only have at most a few minutes to get your message across. The best way to achieve this is by having a good visual CV layout, correct headings and a simple easy to read format.

  • Make it easy for someone reading your CV to find key information about you quickly.

 

Long CVs

Employers do not like long a curriculum vitae that lists every minute details of your career history or your life story. They prefer a short interesting CV that mentions your relevant skills and achievements. If you send a 7 page CV that has very little white space in it and is crammed full off facts and figures, then there is a good chance it will be rejected.

 

Too much information

Do not make your CV boring and difficult top read by overloading it with irrelevant information. A recruiter can become bored and maybe irritated in trying to find your key skills. If they have had a long hard they could simply give up and rejected your CV.

  • Do not write a autobiography.

 

Too little information

Sending in a CV with just a few lines of text will not get you noticed. Try to input as much relevant information that is related to the job you are applying for. It can be difficult trying to strike the right balance, but it is important that you get it right.

  • Tell recruiters only what they want to know.

 

Spelling mistakes

If a employer spots any grammatical errors in your CV they will almost certainly reject it immediately. Use spell checking software and also go over it your self to make sure nothing is left to chance. It is also a good idea to have a friend proof read your CV.

 

Your incorrect contact details

Ensure that your CV has your correct email, address and telephone numbers. If you have made a mistake in any of then you may not get any positive correspondence from the recruiter.

 

Bizarre colors, unusual fonts and colored paper

Do not use colored paper or outlandish fonts and colors, they may get you noticed but for the wrong reasons. They’ll make you appear extroverted and attention seeking. Have your CV on a plain white background and use common fonts like Times New Roman or Arial.

 

Smudgy writing and poor quality paper

If you are sending in your CV on paper them use quality paper, a minimum or 80 grams. Also make sure your print is crystal clear, laser printers are best for high quality printing.

 

Related topics:

How to sell yourself

How to write a CV

What employers look for in a CV

What not to put in your CV

Writing a career objective statement