Top 10 CV Mistakes That Drive Recruiters Mad
Avoid These Common CV Mistakes That Make Recruiters Reject You Instantly
Recruiters typically spend just seconds scanning each CV. With hundreds of applications to filter through, even small mistakes can cause yours to be dismissed.
At CV Pilots, a leading professional CV writing service in the UK, we review hundreds of documents every month and consistently see the same issues holding candidates back. We also work directly with executive recruiters, so we know what makes them stop reading — and what makes them move a candidate forward.
The truth is that your CV is often your only chance to make the right first impression. If it contains careless mistakes or tired, generic language, you’ll instantly lose credibility, no matter how strong your experience may be.
Below, we outline the most common CV errors and how to avoid them if you want your application to survive the first round of review.
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1) Typos and grammar errors
Nothing will damage your professional credibility faster than sloppy spelling and grammar. Recruiters view it as a sign of poor attention to detail and a lack of care.
Don’t rely on spell check. Print out your CV, read it aloud slowly, and look for missing punctuation or clunky phrasing. These small errors are the fastest way to get your CV rejected before it’s even read properly.
2) Misusing words
Even senior professionals frequently confuse commonly misused words — and it undermines their authority. Examples include:
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Effect vs affect
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Principal vs principle
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Then vs than
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Whose vs who’s
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Your vs you’re
A single misuse signals carelessness and can instantly put you at a disadvantage.
3) Leaning on clichés and buzzwords
Recruiters are tired of seeing CVs filled with words like passionate, motivated, skilled, and successful. They don’t prove anything.
Instead of claiming you’re an “excellent communicator” or “highly motivated,” demonstrate it with measurable results:
✔ Increased revenue by 25% by implementing new pricing strategy
✔ Delivered cost savings of £1m through supplier renegotiations
Generic language gets ignored. Evidence of impact gets interviews.
4) Overusing career objectives and skills sections
Most CVs we review include an “objective” or “skills” section that adds little value. At best, it repeats buzzwords. At worst, it takes up prime space at the top of the page.
Yes, ATS systems scan for keywords — but weaving them naturally into your work experience is far more powerful. A recruiter will always believe results over recycled phrases.
5) Telling rather than showing
Recruiters want to see impact, not job descriptions. Compare the following:
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Created Excel model to analyse labour costs
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Built Excel model that reduced payroll expenses by 14% by optimising scheduling
Both statements describe the same task. Only one makes you look like a results-driven professional worth interviewing.
6) Breaking parallel structure
Consistency matters. Every bullet point should begin with a strong action verb:
✔ Spearheaded…
✔ Organised…
✔ Negotiated…
Avoid weak phrasing like responsible for or in charge of. It makes your CV read like a job description instead of a track record of achievements.
7) Inconsistent formatting
A CV that looks untidy suggests you’ll bring the same lack of organisation to the workplace. Fonts, spacing, headings, and bullet points must all be consistent.
We recommend creating styles in Word to ensure formatting is professional and ATS-friendly. Recruiters expect polish, and anything less can cost you an interview.
8) Making it too long
While some senior executives require two pages, anything beyond that risks being ignored. Remember: the goal of your CV is not to tell your life story, it’s to secure an interview.
Keep it focused, targeted, and concise. A CV that drones on for pages will never be fully read.
9) Writing in the first person
A professional CV should be written in the third person. Save “I” statements for your cover letter. Writing in first person wastes space and makes your CV feel informal rather than authoritative.
10) Missing or outdated contact details
You’d be shocked how many professionals forget to update their phone number or email. Without correct contact information, your CV is useless — even if it’s otherwise perfect.
Final Word
At senior level, you can’t afford to make basic mistakes that cost you interviews. A CV riddled with errors, clichés, or poor formatting won’t just fail ATS scans, it will make you look careless and undermine your professional reputation.
If you’ve been applying for roles without success, it may not be your experience that’s the problem — it may be your CV. That’s why many professionals turn to a UK-based executive CV writing service like CV Pilots. We ensure your CV is ATS-compliant, recruiter-approved, and strategically written to showcase your achievements in the strongest light possible.
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10 Common CV Mistakes That Stop You Getting Interviews (and How to Fix Them)
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Struggling to land interviews? Discover the top 10 CV mistakes UK recruiters hate — from typos and clichés to poor formatting. Learn how a professional CV writing service UK can help you stand out.
To find out more, visit our website www.cvpilots.co.uk If you have any further questions, you can either book a consultation call with one of our team, or get in touch via email on team@cvpilots.co.uk
