10 Mistakes To Avoid when writing a Curriculum Vitae( CV)

Curriculum vitae ( CV) or Resume is a document showing someone's Personal information, Brief Description about that person, Education, Work experience, hobbies and Special skills of that person.

When building up a CV, many people always make some little errors which some of them have been shared in this article for you to avoid when building your own CV.

Mistakes to avoid when building up a CV

10 Mistakes To Avoid When Building Up Your CV by Che Housia 

1. Listing hobbies that have nothing to do with the job: It is good to love "eating, sleeping, and watching TV." We know you're not a sloth, so put some effort into this section. Your boss will likely go for someone whose hobbies will make doing the job easier. 

2. Exaggerating things on your CV: If you say you're fluent in Spanish, be prepared to have a conversation with your potential employer in Spanish. We were taught Mandarin Chinese in all our three years of undergraduate studies but I prefer to mention Spanish and leave out Chinese on my CV though I spent less than 2 years in a Spanish country. Honestly, I've forgotten over 80% of the Chinese I knew in 2017.

3. Using a generic CV template: Take the time to tailor your CV to each job you apply for. Your potential employer is interested in those parts of your education, skills, and experience that are relevant to the job. Keep every other thing you know and have acquired and zoom in on those areas that matter to the job you are applying for.

4. Typos and grammatical errors: Proofread your CV carefully before submitting it. If English, French, German etc is not your dialect, get those who master the office languages to massage the CV. You are taking the CV to the office not to the toilet.

5. Including a photo of yourself that is unprofessional or unflattering: First impressions matter, so make sure your photo is appropriate for a professional setting. Go and do your dope photoshoot for your pals. I always feel like adding my photo of me on the beach with my cheleps but it's a job I want not female crushes.

6. Listing your references as "Mom, Dad, and Best Friend: Get some professional references, please! Better still, don't add them. Just note at the end of your CV that you'll provide them upon request.

7. Including a link to your social media profiles: Unless you're applying for a job in social media marketing, keep your social media profiles off your CV.

8. Lying on your CV: Some people don't just exaggerate, they say things that don't exist. This is only shooting yourself on the leg. Lies may get things your way easily but with time, the lies will eventually meet the truth and this would always work against you. Try to write out things that exist more appealing than to fabricate what does not exist. Sooner or later, you'll be tested to defend them.

9. Inappropriate content: Your CV is a professional document, so keep it that way. Avoid including anything inappropriate, such as jokes, political statements, or religious beliefs. 

10. Too much personal information: It's okay to include some personal information on your CV, such as your hobbies and interests, but don't overdo it. You don't need to include your entire life story.

Conclusion

When writing your CV, it's important to be professional and honest. Avoid making the mistakes listed above, and you'll be well on your way to landing your dream job. Go and sin no more. Remember to send me 6.6% of your first salary.

Also read: How to read job winning CV