Do you know that recruiters today will spend less than a minute judging your skills through your CV? Sounds intimidating, right? According to Earnne, a study conducted by Jan Tegze reveals that employers spend only 30-60 seconds reading your CV. And sometimes, 1% of the recruiters take as little as 10 seconds to review your profile. This means you need a cover letter that’s sharp, to the point, and makes you stand out among hundreds of other applicants. So, get yourself shortlisted by avoiding these common mistakes while creating your CV in 2025.

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1. Including detailed personal information

You don’t need to put your picture, address, date of birth, religion, or marital status in your CV in 2025. Avoid mentioning these details, as they might be misused by fraudulent companies for identity theft or other things. These details can also expose you to unconscious bias. So, stick to the important stuff, including your professional email address, phone number, and city.

2. Basic career objectives

Stop using phrases like “trying to hone my skills”, “expand my career”, or “seeking a challenging role”. This is among the most common things you must avoid writing on your CV in 2025. Instead, lure the recruiters with your actual skills that are relevant to the role you’re applying for. For instance, if you’re a content creator, mention how your creative skills and brand awareness can maximise audience engagement.

3. Unnecessary documents

You might have been the school topper or the head girl/head boy back in the day, but how is it relevant 5 years later? Your recruiter is looking for someone who has relevant market skills, so skip all the unnecessary documents that don’t add value. Instead, mention any new skills you’ve learnt recently or any relevant courses you’ve taken that add value to the role you’re applying for. Save your and your recruiter’s time by staying on point.

4. Listing minor work experience

A good CV must include your work experience and your contributions at those places. But freelance internships that are not relevant to your current role will only divert your recruiter’s attention. Sending a half-page CV might feel scary. But giving out three pages with unnecessary work experience might not land you a job either. You must build your CV with relevant industry experience that makes you a perfect fit for the role you’re currently seeking.

5. Using cliché buzzwords

With only 10 seconds per candidate, you think a recruiter is skimming the CVs on their own? As reported by CNN, nearly 48% of hiring managers use AI to screen CVs and portfolios. And so, you need to make sure that AI catches your skills correctly. You must optimise your CV with keywords that any AI tool can instantly highlight. For instance, if you’re a product designer, you must mention keywords like ‘user experience’, ‘collaboration’, ‘usability design’, ‘prototype design’, ‘innovation’, and ‘user interface’, along with all the software you’re experienced with.

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