It was October 2005 when I read my first CV's. I was searching for the first person to hire. I had enthusiastically launched a startup just a few weeks earlier. Since then, more than 15 years have passed, during which—whether as an entrepreneur, manager in a multinational, CEO, or consultant—I’ve either directly hired or overseen recruitment processes for thousands of jobs.

I’ve hired operations managers and sales agents, cleaning staff and secretaries, project managers and developers, product managers and HR specialists, executive directors and trainers. My team and I have reviewed over 100,000 CVs and spent tens of thousands of hours in interviews. I've met and hired high-quality professionals who went on to have successful careers, as well as poorly prepared candidates—or simply those who were not the right fit for the roles they aspired to.

What I’ve learned over the years is that, often, hiring managers have to go through hundreds of CVs just to find a few good ones. And sometimes, coming across a weak CV is a good thing—it means they can quickly toss it and move on to the next.

If you don’t want your CV to end up in the trash, avoid these five major mistakes that could make you seem like a weak candidate:

1. A Misleading or Irrelevant CV Title

Your CV title should be placed at the top, just below your contact details.
The keywords in your CV title instantly signal to recruiters whether you might be a good fit for the role. For example, if you’re applying for a job titled “Senior Brand Manager,” and your CV boldly says “Brand Marketing Manager,” recruiters will likely want to read about your experience and skills.

But if your title says “Social Media Manager,” recruiters might still take a look (if the roles are somewhat similar), but they won’t be as confident that you're the right match.

2. Missing Hard Skills and Soft Skills

Hard skills refer to your technical knowledge and training (e.g., Photoshop, Excel), while soft skills relate to your personal attributes (e.g., leadership, time management). I recommend a 2:1 ratio—for every two hard skills, list one soft skill.

CVs filled only with soft skills create doubt. If recruiters see only traits like "team player" or "motivated," they may start questioning your actual ability to do the job. After all, companies are hiring people to do something.

On the flip side, a CV full of technical skills with no personal attributes can make you seem one-dimensional and possibly difficult to integrate into a well-functioning team.

3. Overly Colorful or Cluttered Design

Too many bright colors, wedding-style photos, or chaotic graphic elements can make candidates appear like they’re trying too hard.

Most hiring managers dislike overly decorated CVs. I’ve seen people use flashy formats trying to “stand out.” But that’s not how it works.

Like in any type of communication, consider your audience. In general, a clean format—black and white text, clear lines, and consistent fonts—is safer. In creative industries like graphic design or advertising, your CV can showcase your creativity.
My advice? Don’t overdo it. Keep it within limits.

4. Bad Formatting and Grammar Errors

Here are some common formatting and grammar issues to watch for:

• Using personal pronouns. Avoid “I,” “my,” and “me.” Instead of “I led marketing campaigns,” write “Led marketing campaigns.”
• Spelling out numbers. This makes measurable achievements harder to identify. Use digits instead.
• Start bullet points with action verbs like: managed, supervised, analyzed, designed.
• Incorrect verb tenses. Use present tense for your current job and past tense for previous roles.
• Too long or too short. Stick to 1–2 full pages. If you’re early in your career, consider adding college courses, volunteer work, or hobbies (only if relevant to the job). If you’ve had a long career, skip the detailed responsibilities of jobs you held 10+ years ago. No one cares what you did 16 years ago as a call center agent. And if you have a Master’s in Electrical Engineering, there’s no need to mention high school.

5. No LinkedIn Profile

Your LinkedIn profile should be listed at the top of your CV, along with your contact info (and professional website, if applicable).

Employers want people who take their careers seriously. That means maintaining your professional network and proudly showcasing your achievements.

Keep your LinkedIn profile updated. Your CV should be tailored to the specific role you’re applying for, while LinkedIn can offer a broader, more complete picture of your experience and skills.

In short: If you want to get hired, start by making sure your CV doesn’t get discarded. Avoid these mistakes and put your best foot forward!

✅ "Your CV is your first handshake with the future—make it strong, clear, and unforgettable."