Your CV is your foot in the door—but if it’s not sharp, clear, and results-focused, it may be quietly holding your job search back.

The CV Pitfalls That Cost You Interviews

Even experienced professionals make avoidable mistakes on their CV. One of the most common? Writing it like a career history instead of a strategic marketing document. A CV should highlight where you’ve delivered value—not list every task you’ve ever done.

Other common issues include:

• CVs that are three or four pages long
• Lack of focus or clear narrative
• Generic statements like “results-driven leader”
• Bullet points with no outcomes or metrics
• Missing industry keywords, which means getting filtered out by ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems)

In a competitive market, even small errors can mean missing out on opportunities. Recruiters and hiring managers spend seconds scanning CVs. If your strengths and suitability don’t leap off the page, you’re unlikely to progress.

What Makes a CV Stand Out in Today’s Market

A great CV doesn’t try to cover everything. Instead, it tells a clear story about your value. It highlights achievements using active language and measurable results.

For example, “Led a team” becomes “Led a team of 8 to deliver a £1.2m transformation project, on time and under budget.” It’s specific, impressive, and easy to understand.

At the Career Accelerator Course, we walk you through exactly how to do this. Our templates, tutorials, and examples are built around what employers actually look for. You’ll also learn how to align your CV with your LinkedIn profile and job search strategy for a consistent, professional message.

Don’t forget: your CV is one piece of the puzzle. If you’re struggling to find direction in your overall job hunt, check out our companion guide: Job search worries – and how to beat them.

A strong CV doesn’t just improve your chances—it builds your confidence. And that confidence plays a huge role in landing your next opportunity.