Example Bad CV / Resume – Avoid CV Mistakes

Example Bad CV / Resume

Whilst a well-written, neatly presented and error free CV/Resume can present you in a positive light to prospective employers; you can be guaranteed that a bad CV or a badly written resume is a sure fire way of limiting your job opportunities.

The objective of a CV is to show you in the best light, highlighting your good points and ability to do the role you are applying for. Including negative information in a haphazard manner only serves to eliminate you from the reader’s list of possible candidates.

A Bad CV / Resume will greatly reduce the chances of you landing a job.

There are certain CV/resumes don’ts that must be avoided to make sure that your CV does not give negative images of you to potential employers. Think about it, if you send out a bad CV to companies you would like to work for; then you may have greatly reduced your chance of finding employment with them.

So what makes a bad CV ?

1. Fancy fonts! Use a font that is neat, easy to read and looks professional.

2. Contact details If an employer cannot contact you they won’t!

3. Email address. Use a sensible, not funny email address.

4. Personal details. No need to give age, marital status or nationality.

5. Profile. Write in the 3rd person, sell yourself by including positive information and make it relative to the role.

6. Skills. Give realistic examples that can be demonstrated.

7. Employment. List in chronological order with the last job first. Start with the most important duties. Do not state reasons for leaving.

8. Interests/Hobbies. Stating you like shopping, going out drinking with friends or watching TV will not show you in a good light.

9. References. Either provide credible references or state that you will supply them on request.

At the Personal Development Cafe we advise that you tell the truth. Do not lie on your CV. Anything you put on your CV will need to be confirmed either on an application form or at an interview. However it is far easier to explain delicate issues in person than on paper.

There is no reason why you should state on your CV the reason why you left a job if it might show you in a negative light; get an interview where you can explain in person! Similarly, if you have experienced a period of unemployment; it may be best to state what you were doing during that time. The reader may have suffered the same experience and appreciate your honesty.

Remember that your CV/resume is a written representation of you! Think of it as a personal marketing document. If you are sending out hundreds of copies to prospective employers, then sending out a bad CV will only serve to restrict your opportunities.

There is no such thing as a perfect CV. If you are getting interviews, then your CV is doing its job; if not get another opinion and change it.  However regularly updating your CV /resume to make sure it is accurate is strongly recommended.

Before you send out your CV/resume, you should make sure you have an effective cover letter. You can download a software program that will  enable you to produce powerful letters by following their process.

Your CV / resume represents you so remember how important it is to check for grammar and punctuation. Sometimes a word transposed or omitted can have a devastating effect. Just look at some of the worst CV mistakes for examples of bad grammar and punctuation.

Whatever your profession go to our sample CV / resumes by job title page where you can find free examples of:

Sample IT Project Manager CV / resume

Mature Job Seekers CV / resume

Change of Career CV / resume

Sample Nursery Nurse CV / resume

Here at The Personal Development Cafe we know that one of the best things to do with knowledge is to pass it on.  If you have any suggestions, tips, questions, comments, need help writing a professional CV/resume or would like further information on how to write a CV or resume use our comment form below.