1. Career Objective.
When you begin your CV with a Career Objective, you shift the emphasis away from what YOU can do and why they should hire you, and toward what problem you can solve. Most career objectives are generic and only tell the reader what YOU are looking for. "Seeking a role that will enable me to utilize my skills within a growing company". Does this sound familiar? Make the introduction about what you want, not what makes you the best candidate for the role you're applying for.
2. Personal Information.
This includes your home address, ID number, dependents, health information, date of birth, marital status, religion, and so on. What else am I overlooking?
3. Photo.
Leave this off unless your appearance is a major factor in your getting the job. Recruiters, like everyone else, have biases, and you don't want to be in a position where your appearance is more important than your actual skills, experience, and so on.
DO NOT ADD any documents to your CV, such as certificates or a copy of your ID. Your CV should be a separate file. If the job application asks for the documents, attach them as separate files.
5. Buzzwords.
These are words that, as a result of overuse, have lost their meaning. Words like "hardworking," "motivated," "on time," and "diligent" come to mind. Imagine when Hiring Managers / recruiters have to scan through dozens of CVs, and every candidate claims to be a "hard-working and motivated individual"? It does nothing to distinguish you from other candidates.
6. Graphics such as logos, charts and tables.
These are fine for a human to look at, but not for the robot (ATS) that needs to scan your CV when you apply online. These graphics are unreadable by the ATS (depending on which ATS it is).
7. Unnecessary fluff.
Your CV does not require a cover page or the title "Curriculum Vitae of...". Recruiters review each CV in less than 6 seconds. You have 6 seconds to convince them that it is worthwhile to continue reading. Let's get to the point!
8. Long paragraphs.
These will make your CV difficult to read. Your introduction summary should be no more than two to three sentences long. Your duties should always be listed in bullet points. Please do not copy all of the text from your cover letter and paste it into your CV.
9. Your life story.
Your resume should not look like a Wikipedia page, listing every single thing you've done in your life. Essentially, it should resemble a website's landing page. Your Unique Value Proposition should be articulated clearly. It should have a logical, readable structure. Succinct. Direct and to the point.
10. E-mail address from your current employer.
It's truly unprofessional, and it gives the recruiter / hiring manager the impression that you're applying for jobs during company hours.
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