The Vague Objective Statement
A common mistake is starting with a generic objective like, “Seeking a challenging role in a reputed organisation to utilise my skills.” This tells a recruiter nothing specific. It’s a wasted opportunity to make a strong first impression. Instead, replace
it with a crisp, 3-4 line Professional Summary. This section should be a powerful pitch, highlighting your years of experience, key technical skills, and a major achievement. Tailor this summary for each application, using keywords from the job description to grab attention.
Listing Duties, Not Achievements
Recruiters already have a good idea of the responsibilities tied to a job title. Simply listing your duties, such as “Managed social media accounts” or “Responsible for backend development,” is a passive approach that undersells your capabilities. The key is to showcase your impact. Instead of listing duties, highlight quantified achievements. For example, change “Managed social media” to “Increased brand engagement by 40% across platforms by implementing a new content strategy.” Use action verbs and numbers to demonstrate the value you brought to your previous roles.
Ignoring Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
Over 75% of resumes submitted to major Indian job portals are first scanned by an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), not a human. If your CV isn't optimised for this software, it will likely be rejected before a recruiter ever sees it. Common weaknesses here include using complex formatting like tables and graphics, non-standard headings, or failing to include specific keywords from the job posting. To fix this, use a clean, simple format with standard headings like “Work Experience” and “Skills.” Most importantly, mirror the language used in the job description. If the role requires “Python” and “AWS,” ensure those exact terms are in your CV.
A Crowded and Unprofessional Format
A CV that is difficult to read is a CV that won't get read. Weaknesses include inconsistent fonts, tiny margins, dense blocks of text, and unprofessional email addresses. For candidates with less than five years of experience, a single, well-structured page is often preferred, though Indian recruiters are generally open to two pages for more experienced professionals. Use a clean font like Calibri or Arial, ensure there is plenty of white space, and use bullet points instead of long paragraphs. Finally, an email address like “angelpriya48@hotmail.com” is a major red flag; stick to a professional format like firstname.lastname@gmail.com.
A One-Size-Fits-All Approach
Sending the same generic CV for every application is one of the most common and damaging mistakes. Recruiters can spot a non-tailored resume instantly, and it signals a lack of genuine interest in the specific role and company. Your CV is a marketing document for a specific audience. Before applying, study the job description to understand the employer's needs. Then, customise your CV by highlighting the most relevant skills and experiences, reordering bullet points to match the role's priorities, and updating your professional summary.
Typos and Grammatical Errors
This may seem obvious, but it remains a frequent and fatal weakness. A single typo or grammatical error can give the impression that you are careless and lack attention to detail. According to one survey, over half of recruiters find poor spelling and grammar unacceptable. After you've written your CV, proofread it multiple times. Then, have at least one other person review it for mistakes you may have missed. A fresh pair of eyes can easily spot errors that you've become blind to.
