Spelling errors, photos, job descriptions instead of achievements — these common mistakes cost candidates interviews. Here's how to avoid all of them.
Most CVs are rejected within 30 seconds. Recruiters scan, they don't read — and the first scan is often done by an ATS algorithm, not a human at all. Understanding the most common mistakes helps you eliminate the easy failures before your CV reaches anyone's inbox.
UK CVs do not include photos. Full stop. Unlike Germany, France, or Spain where photos are common, UK convention is clear: no photo. Including one opens you to unconscious bias and signals unfamiliarity with UK norms. Many recruiters will discard a CV with a photo on sight to protect themselves from discrimination claims.
These are legally protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. Reputable UK employers have policies against collecting this information at CV stage. Including it looks naive and creates awkwardness. Leave both off entirely.
"Responsible for managing the accounts payable function" tells a recruiter nothing useful. "Reduced invoice processing time by 40% by implementing automated three-way matching, saving 12 hours per week across the finance team" — that's a CV bullet. Every bullet point should lead with an action verb and end with a result or impact.
A single typo in your personal profile will cause many recruiters to bin your CV immediately. It signals carelessness. Spellcheck with UK English (organisation, colour, specialise — not the US versions). Then read it aloud. Then ask someone else to read it. Only then is it ready.
One page for a senior manager with 15 years' experience looks like you have something to hide. Five pages for a graduate looks like you can't edit. Two pages is the standard. If you're genuinely struggling to fill two pages, you're underselling yourself. If you're struggling to cut to two pages, you're including too much irrelevant detail.
"A motivated and enthusiastic professional with excellent communication skills seeking a challenging role in a dynamic environment." This paragraph appears, almost verbatim, on thousands of CVs every day. It says nothing. Write a profile that names your specialism, your level of experience, and what you're specifically looking for. Tailor it to every application.
Text boxes, tables, columns, headers and footers, inline images, and certain fonts all cause ATS systems to either misread or discard your CV. Keep formatting simple: standard columns, clear headings, normal fonts. If in doubt, test your CV by pasting the text into Notepad — what remains is what ATS systems see.
Gaps are not automatically disqualifying — but unexplained gaps look suspicious. If you took time out for caring responsibilities, travel, health, or education, say so briefly. "Career break — full-time carer for family member, 2022–2023" is perfectly acceptable. Recruiters understand life happens; they don't understand silence.
The same CV sent to 50 different roles is rarely successful. Read the job description carefully. Identify the five to six core requirements. Make sure each appears prominently in your CV — ideally mirroring the employer's own language. An experienced recruiter will notice in seconds whether a CV is tailored or generic.
This is embarrassing and more common than you'd think. Always proofread your final version with Track Changes turned off. Accept all changes, turn off comment bubbles, and save as PDF before sending. Better still: always send PDF unless specifically asked for a Word document.
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