Writing the Perfect CV: 3 Things That Kill Your Chances (And How to Fix Them)
- Feb 6
- 1 min read
📄 Employers spend an average of 6–8 seconds scanning a CV before deciding if it’s worth a deeper look.
That’s not much time to make a great impression—and plenty of strong candidates lose out for avoidable reasons.
Here are 3 CV killers and how to avoid them:
Avoid starting sentences with an “I” “I did this,” “I managed that,” “I led a team…” It’s natural, but it gets repetitive fast. 👉 Pro Tip: Start with action verbs instead.
Led a cross-functional team…
Delivered a 20% increase in revenue…
Streamlined onboarding for 100+ hires...
List results, not just responsibilities Listing what you were supposed to do doesn’t show what you actually accomplished. 👉Pro Tip: Quantify your impact: numbers > adjectives.
Collaboration resulted in a 5% increase…
Avoid generic buzzwords “Hard-working,” “motivated,” “team player”… These don’t differentiate you—they blend you in. 👉 Pro Tip: Replace buzzwords with specifics: what did being “motivated” lead to?
Cross-functional collaborator with high-capacity for detailed processes
✅ Bonus Tip: Be sure to match your keywords with those in the job description. It will increase your chances in the initial scan.
Think like a recruiter. What would they want to read?
Answer? Cut any fluff. Show your impact, and don’t be shy. And make every word earn its place.
What’s the best CV tip you’ve ever received?
🌐 Want more CV tips and career tools? Explore free resources at www.AurumBorealis.com.
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