Are you sending your CV but getting no response? Here are some of the most common CV mistakes that drive recruiters crazy and send your CV straight to the bin.

1. Typos, slang and abbreviations - This is always in the recruiter’s top lists of pet hates. Why? Because it shows that the application was done in a rush. It’s easy to spot a badly written CV when there are red lines under each word! Don’t use abbreviations and too much technical jargon as your CV will most probably be read by a recruiter who may not be familiar with them.

2. Writing lots, but saying nothing - If recruiters have to concentrate too hard to find relevant information on your CV, they won’t read it! They’re not looking for you to explain everything you've ever done. Grab their attention with bullet points rather than long sentences. Two pages of A4 are more than enough to persuade recruiters that you're worth contacting for an interview! According to researchers, the 10 top words to use in a CV are: achievement, active, developed, evidence, experience, impact, individual, involved, planning and transferable skills.

3. Including unnecessary information - Reasons for leaving jobs, salary, gender and marital status have no bearing on your ability to do a job so can be omitted. Your personal interests should only be added if they are either unusual or they demonstrate a skill relevant to the role for which you are applying. Following the introduction of age discrimination legislation, your date of birth is no longer required.

4. Lying - Obviously, you have to describe yourself in the best possible light. But avoid the temptation to go too far. Recruiters are not stupid. They can spot information that doesn't stack up. They’re always on the look out for inflated qualifications, salaries, job titles and achievements and it’s becoming more common for companies to do background and reference checks prior to hiring.

5. Not including achievements - This is the section that is missed out most on CVs. Your CV is about you and your results and not about the jobs you did. Highlight specific achievements that are relevant to the job. Think of new procedures, time saving activities, successful campaigns, increased sales and money saved and made. This demonstrates to employers that you are commercially focused and results driven. Although not all roles have quantifiable key performance indicators, think of the impact you have had on the business.

6. Applying to positions you are not qualified for - Recruiters don’t have time to sort through hundreds of CVs that are in no way a match for the requirements they are trying to fill. If you are interested in a company but they don’t have a relevant position at present you could write in your cover letter ‘please accept the attached CV in anticipation of future, suitable opportunities.’

7. Not including dates or inaccurate dates - A CV that does not include dates especially for long periods of time sends "red flags" to the recruiter that you’re trying to hide something. Your employment dates should be aligned to the right so that recruiters can easily “skim” down the page. If you have gaps, explain them in your cover letter but not in your CV. Here's more on changing careers on your CV.

8. Not including a personal profile - Without a summary of your skills the recruiter needs to read your whole CV and pick out the skills themselves and if they have two hundred CVs for one position and only need to find ten good candidates then they may not have time to read your whole CV. Make sure yours gets chosen by showing clearly you have the skills required. Use a three to four selling statement summing up your career background, areas of expertise, key skills and motivations.

9. Being vague and clichéd - Vague statements that could apply to anyone e.g. ‘seeking a challenging position in a professional environment’ tell the recruiter nothing. If you have worded your achievements well, clichés such as ‘good communicator’ and ‘team player’ are not needed because it will be evident from your experience that you already have these skills.

10. Not tailoring your CV to a specific role - Do not send your CV to as many companies as possible in the hope that you will increase your chances of getting an interview. Each employer is looking for a CV and cover letter that applies to their role and as all roles are different, you should make small adaptations so that it matches their specific requirements. Show that you understand what it is they want you to do.

11. Using ‘I’ too much - There's nothing worse than reading a CV that's full of ‘I did this’ and ‘I did that’. The recruiter knows it’s all about you! Using action verbs to start sentences is a good way to overcome this e.g. achieved, organized or developed.

12. Poor formatting - Pay attention to the layout of your CV. Recruiters only look at CVs for a few seconds before deciding whether to continue reading so clarity of information is important. You should present information under clearly labelled sections, with education and employment history documented in reverse chronological order. Contact details should always be clearly visible at the top of your CV. Choose a plain font like Arial which is easy on the eye.

13. Not including a covering letter - Because you cannot sit with the recruiter and walk them through your CV, the cover letter should entice them to turn the page and read your CV. Make sure that your cover letter addresses the key skills and requirements you have to fill the position and use the job advert as a guide on what the employer wants to see from you.

14. Photos on CVs - Do not put your photograph on your CV. No matter how attractive you make yourself look, it will not improve your chances. Any CV writer will tell you that candidates are judged based on their skills, education and work history and not on race, sex and age.

If you require assistance with CV and cover letter writing, interview coaching or career coaching please contact us on 020 7193 7510 (Mon-Fri 09:00 - 17:30)