South African job seeker reviewing a CV before applying for a job

10 Common CV Mistakes Job Seekers Should Check Before Applying

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Your CV is often one of the first things an employer sees when you apply for a job, internship, learnership or graduate programme.

A strong CV does not guarantee an interview, but a poorly prepared one can make it harder for an employer to understand your qualifications, skills and experience.

Common problems include sending the wrong document, leaving important information unclear, making unsupported claims, using a generic CV for every application and failing to check for simple errors.

The good news is that many CV mistakes are easy to identify and fix before you submit an application.

1. Sending the Wrong CV

One of the simplest mistakes is submitting a CV that does not match the position.

For example, if you are applying for an administrative internship, your CV should make relevant administrative, computer, communication or organisational skills easy to identify if you genuinely have them.

You do not need to rewrite your entire CV for every application, but reviewing it against the vacancy can help you decide which relevant experience and skills deserve greater emphasis.

Before submitting, check:

  • Is the job title correct?
  • Does your CV reflect the position you’re applying for?
  • Are your most relevant skills easy to find?
  • Have you accidentally left information from another application?

2. Using a Generic Personal Profile

A personal profile should give the reader a quick understanding of who you are and what type of opportunity you are seeking.

A vague statement such as:

“I am a hardworking person looking for a challenging opportunity.”

doesn’t tell the employer much.

Instead, focus on your actual background, relevant strengths and career direction.

For example, a recent graduate could explain their qualification, relevant skills and interest in the type of position they are applying for.

Don’t claim to have experience or skills that you cannot demonstrate.

3. Including Spelling and Grammar Errors

Small errors can make a CV look unfinished.

Before submitting it, check:

  • Spelling
  • Grammar
  • Punctuation
  • Capitalisation
  • Dates
  • Job titles
  • Company or institution names
  • Contact details

Reading the CV slowly from beginning to end can help you notice mistakes that are easy to overlook when you have read the document many times.

You can also ask someone you trust to proofread it.

4. Making the CV Difficult to Read

A CV can contain good information and still be difficult to use.

Avoid unnecessarily complicated layouts, excessive decoration and huge blocks of text.

A reader should be able to identify your:

  • Name
  • Contact details
  • Profile
  • Education
  • Experience
  • Skills
  • Relevant additional information

without having to search through the document.

Use clear headings, short paragraphs and bullet points where appropriate.

5. Listing Skills Without Evidence

Simply writing a long list of skills doesn’t always tell an employer how you developed or used them.

For example:

Skills:

  • Leadership
  • Communication
  • Teamwork
  • Problem-solving
  • Computer skills

These may be relevant, but the CV becomes stronger when other sections demonstrate where those skills came from.

If you worked on a group project, volunteered at an event or completed practical coursework, explain what you actually did.

This gives context to the skills you claim.

6. Exaggerating Your Experience

Avoid turning a small responsibility into a job title or experience level that you did not actually have.

For example, helping a family business with social media does not necessarily mean you were formally employed as a marketing manager.

Describe the activity accurately.

You can still demonstrate useful skills without making your experience sound bigger than it was.

Honest information is particularly important if an employer asks questions about your previous experience during an interview.

7. Including Irrelevant Information

More information does not automatically make a CV better.

Ask whether each section helps demonstrate that you are suitable for the opportunity.

Depending on the position, information that may be less useful can include:

  • Very old activities with no relevance
  • Unnecessary personal details
  • Long descriptions of unrelated hobbies
  • Repeated information
  • Generic statements that provide no evidence

Prioritise information that helps the reader understand your qualifications, skills and relevant experience.

8. Forgetting to Update Your Contact Details

A CV is of little use if an employer cannot contact you.

Before applying, check your:

  • Phone number
  • Email address
  • Location, where relevant
  • Professional profile links, if included

Use an email address that you check regularly and that is appropriate for job applications.

Also make sure your phone number is entered correctly.

9. Using an Unprofessional Email Address

Your email address is part of your application.

If your current email address is based on an old nickname, joke or unrelated phrase, consider creating a simple professional email address using your name where possible.

For example, an address based on your name is generally easier to associate with a job application than one containing random words or numbers.

You do not need an expensive domain or special service.

10. Lying About Qualifications or Experience

Never invent:

  • Qualifications
  • Employment
  • Job titles
  • Responsibilities
  • References
  • Certifications
  • Software skills
  • Professional registrations

If you have limited experience, present your genuine education, projects, volunteering and skills clearly instead.

A short but truthful CV is better than a CV filled with claims you cannot support.

11. Forgetting to Check the Vacancy Requirements

Your CV should not be prepared in isolation from the job advertisement.

Before applying, compare the vacancy with your CV.

For example, if the employer specifically asks for a particular qualification or software skill, check whether your CV clearly shows your relevant background.

This doesn’t mean copying the vacancy into your CV.

It means making relevant information easy for the employer to find.

12. Using Too Much Text

A CV should communicate information efficiently.

Long paragraphs can make important information difficult to identify.

Where appropriate, turn responsibilities or achievements into concise bullet points.

Instead of writing one long paragraph about everything you did during an internship, break the information into separate points.

This can make the document easier to scan.

13. Repeating the Same Information

Your qualification might already appear in your education section.

You don’t need to repeat the same information several times throughout the CV unless there is a clear reason to do so.

Likewise, avoid writing the same skill in your profile, skills section and every experience entry without adding useful context.

Use each section for a purpose.

14. Using an Inappropriate File Name

Before uploading your CV, check the file name.

A file called:

CV-final-final2-new.pdf

looks less organised than a simple descriptive file name.

Consider using a format such as:

YourName_CV.pdf

If the employer provides a specific naming instruction, follow that instruction instead.

15. Not Checking the Application Instructions

Sometimes the CV itself isn’t the problem.

The applicant may simply fail to follow the employer’s instructions.

For example, an employer may specify:

  • A particular application portal
  • A required file format
  • A reference number
  • Specific documents
  • An application deadline
  • A particular subject line for email applications

Follow the instructions provided by the organisation.

Don’t add documents that aren’t requested simply because you assume every employer wants the same things.

16. Sending the Same CV Without Checking It

Using one basic CV as your starting point can save time.

But before every application, review it.

Check that:

  • The position is correct.
  • Your profile is relevant.
  • Your skills match the opportunity where appropriate.
  • Dates are accurate.
  • Contact details are correct.
  • The file contains no information from another application.

A two-minute final check can prevent an avoidable mistake.

17. Including Information You Cannot Explain

Everything on your CV should be something you can discuss honestly.

If you list a technical skill, be prepared to explain your level of knowledge.

If you list a project, be able to describe your contribution.

If you list an internship, be able to explain what you did.

Your CV should help you prepare for an interview, not create claims that you will struggle to defend.

A Simple CV Check Before You Apply

Use this checklist before submitting your next application:

Personal information

  • Name is correct
  • Phone number is correct
  • Email address is correct
  • Relevant location information is included where appropriate

Education

  • Qualification names are accurate
  • Institution names are correct
  • Dates are accurate
  • Relevant fields of study are clear

Experience

  • Employment history is truthful
  • Responsibilities are accurate
  • Relevant volunteering is included where useful
  • Projects are clearly labelled
  • Dates are consistent

Skills

  • Skills are genuine
  • Relevant skills are easy to find
  • Skill levels are not exaggerated
  • Examples elsewhere in the CV support important claims

Final review

  • Spelling checked
  • Grammar checked
  • Formatting is consistent
  • File name is appropriate
  • Correct CV is attached
  • Vacancy requirements checked
  • Application instructions followed
  • Closing date checked

Should You Change Your CV for Every Job?

Not necessarily from scratch.

A better approach is to maintain a strong master CV containing your accurate education, experience, projects and skills.

Then, when applying for a particular opportunity, review the vacancy and make appropriate adjustments.

For example, you might change:

  • The personal profile
  • The order of skills
  • Which projects receive more attention
  • Which experience is most prominent

Don’t change facts simply to make yourself appear qualified.

What If You Have No Work Experience?

Having little or no formal employment experience does not mean your CV has to be empty.

You can include relevant:

  • Education
  • Academic projects
  • Volunteering
  • Learnerships
  • Internships
  • Workplace-based learning
  • Student activities
  • Personal projects
  • Relevant certifications

The key is to describe these experiences accurately.

For example, an academic project should be presented as a project rather than professional employment.

Final Takeaway

A strong CV is not necessarily the longest CV.

It should make your real qualifications, skills and experience clear while making it easy for an employer to understand why you are applying.

Before submitting your next application, take a few minutes to check the document for errors, irrelevant information, exaggerated claims, outdated contact details and instructions you may have missed.

Most importantly, keep your CV truthful.

You don’t need to invent experience to make your application stronger. Your goal is to present the experience and skills you genuinely have in the clearest possible way.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the biggest CV mistake?

There isn’t one mistake that affects every application. Common problems include inaccurate information, poor readability, spelling errors, irrelevant content and failure to follow the employer’s application instructions.

Should I include every job I’ve ever had?

Not necessarily. Prioritise experience that is relevant to the position, while keeping important employment history accurate and clear.

Should I include hobbies on my CV?

Only if they add relevant information or help demonstrate something useful for the application. Hobbies should not take space away from more relevant qualifications, skills or experience.

Can I use the same CV for every job?

You can use a master CV, but it is worth reviewing and adapting relevant sections for each application.

Should I include skills I learned at university?

Yes, if the skills are genuine and relevant. Academic projects can also provide evidence of how you developed or used those skills.

Should a CV include a photo?

Requirements vary by employer and country. Don’t add a photo simply because you assume every employer requires one. Follow the specific application’s instructions.

Official Source

Not applicable — this is an evergreen career guide based on general CV and job-application best practices rather than a specific vacancy or official programme announcement.

Last Checked Date

30 September 2026

Author/Updated Information

Written by: Mbalizuke Nkosi
Published: 30 September 2026
Updated: 30 September 2026
Information checked: 30 September 2026

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