Recruiters see hundreds of CVs. The ones that get rejected quickly usually share a few avoidable problems. Here are the most common ones and how to fix them in minutes.
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Spelling and grammar errors | Read your CV aloud, use a spell checker and ask a friend to proofread. |
| Listing duties instead of results | Rewrite bullets as achievements with numbers: “Cut costs by 12%”. |
| A generic profile | Mention your field, years of experience, top skills and one result. |
| Too long or too short | One page for freshers, two pages for experienced professionals. |
| Unprofessional email | Use firstname.lastname@… for job applications. |
| Missing dates | Add month and year for every job and degree. |
| Unexplained gaps | Briefly mention study, freelancing, caregiving or travel. |
| Same CV for every job | Adjust the profile and skills to each job advert. |
| No keywords | Use the words from the job advert that truly describe you. |
| Crowded design | Use clear headings, white space and one or two colours. |
| Text in images or complex tables | Keep important information as real text for ATS. |
| Irrelevant personal details | Leave out religion, marital status and ID numbers unless requested. |
| Outdated skills | Remove skills like “Windows XP” and add current tools. |
| Lies or exaggeration | Be honest; everything on your CV can be checked in an interview. |
| Wrong file or file name | Send a PDF named Firstname-Lastname-CV.pdf unless asked otherwise. |
Run your CV through the free ATS checker to catch several of these problems automatically.
The 60-second final check
- Can a stranger understand what job you want in 5 seconds?
- Does every job have at least two results?
- Are your phone number and email correct?
- Is the layout clean on both screen and paper?
- Does the file open correctly as a PDF?
Fix your CV in the free builder →
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Ayub Khan Khattak
Founder of HAYAQR, HayaConverter and HayaCV. Builds free, privacy-first tools that help people in Pakistan and beyond work smarter.