Bad CV examples: here are the most common mistakes to avoid

We've all made mistakes, it's a natural part of life. One place you don't want to make a mistake, though, is on your professional CV. A bad CV could scupper your chances of landing your dream job. Luckily, here at TopCV we've seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. Let’s take a look at what NOT to do with our list of bad CV examples. 

What makes a bad CV?

Before we go any further, let’s start with the basics. There are some general rules to writing a knock-out CV that should go without saying. Don't send a CV full of typos, don't overshare personal information, and don't assume your reader knows what you do. 

Beyond that, however, things aren't always as clear. What was considered best practice 15 years ago doesn't work now and the rules of CV-writing best practice have moved on. 

Are you guilty of these 13 bad CV examples?

1. Writing an objective statement

A classic bad CV example, the objective statement is seen as outdated now – for two reasons. Firstly, your objective is always, presumably, to get the job you've submitted your CV for. It goes without saying. Secondly, an objective statement is all about what you want to do in the future. A stronger CV would show off what you have to offer, instead.

What to do instead: Remove this information and make space to sell your best skills, experience, and qualifications. 

2. Using visuals or graphics

Bad CV examples contain wild formatting, including charts and images. You may think they show off your creativity, but they can render your CV unreadable to an applicant tracking system (ATS), a scanning software used by most recruiters to sort CVs. There's simply no place for icons, logos, or graphs on a professional, ATS-friendly CV. 

What to do instead: Content is king on your CV. Choose a single column format with black text and no images – check out our good CV format examples for inspiration. A restrained pop of colour is also fine to give your CV some style, but keep the overall impression professional. 

3. Having an excessively long or short CV

The perfect CV length is a never-ending debate. A senior executive is likely to sell themselves short with a one-page CV. Similarly, there's no excuse for a seven-page CV even if you're the prime minister – that’s a perfect example of a bad CV. 

What to do instead: If you're not sure, two pages is generally a safe bet. Remember to strike a fine balance between respecting your reader's time and showcasing the attributes that will sell you into the role.  

4. Listing all your responsibilities 

When it comes to bad CV examples, this is generally the most common. The more experienced you are, the more selective you need to be with the responsibilities you include. As a general rule, try to summarise the responsibilities for each role into two or three sentences. Ask yourself: what is the point and scope of this role? 

What to do instead: Highlight measurable achievements when listing your professional experience. This will show a hiring manager how you can have a positive impact on a business. 

5. Stuffing your CV with keywords

To pass the ATS, your CV will need to contain keywords that highlight your relevance to the role. For example, a car salesman should include words such as "sales," "negotiation," "finance" and so on. However, bad CV examples include those with too many keywords that simply don’t make sense or attempt to disguise a thin work history or lack of essential skills.

What to do instead: Scrutinise the job advert for the most relevant keywords and incorporate them naturally, and in moderation, throughout your CV

6. Going wild with the fonts

Font choice can be a very personal thing. Your CV font can be an easy way to inject a bit of personality into an otherwise dry document, but choosing the wrong one can negatively impact readability. So don’t get too fancy with it.

What to do instead: Choose a contemporary, sans serif, widely available font, and use a maximum of two different ones. 

7. Ignoring career gaps 

While taking a break is perfectly normal, not addressing these career gaps on your CV by trying to reformat your career history to hide them is a bad CV example – it can raise red flags for recruiters. With no better explanation, they may infer that you were fired, in prison, or simply lazing around. 

What to do instead: Write a brief one or two-line explanation of the gap. For example, travelling, raising a family, or upskilling after being made redundant. As long as you frame it positively, it won't be a concern. 

8. Including certain personal details 

You might be tempted to get personal in your CV, to demonstrate who you are as a person to your potential employer, but it won't help your application. Moreover, anti-discrimination laws are in place to protect job seekers, so including personal info – such as a picture on your CV – could get you disqualified due to potential unconscious bias. Exclude your:

• Photograph

• Date of birth

• Nationality

• Marital status 

Details about hobbies and interests are also typically unwelcome, but if you do choose to include them, there are ways to do it constructively.

What to do instead: Stick to the information that’s relevant to the position. Anything outside of that may detract from your application as a whole.

9. Not tailoring your CV

We get it, preparing the perfect CV for each job is a time-consuming task. But sending out the same one to multiple vacancies won't increase your chances of success. Employers don't have time to wade through generic details in the hope of identifying the nugget that makes you worth interviewing. 

What to do instead: Rather than sending a CV packed with irrelevant information to several companies, take the time to present a strong, credible application, customising your CV for each vacancy.

10. Lying on your CV

Really? We shouldn't need to tell you this but lying on your CV is never a good idea. Apart from being unethical, this bad CV example shows a lack of integrity. If you can't talk in depth about every element of your CV in an interview, you're going to look foolish at best. If you do end up getting the job, you risk being fired if your deception is uncovered. 

What to do instead: Omit details that reflect badly on you, but remember that a CV should be totally honest… always. If you put care and consideration into your wording, you can make whatever you've done sound impressive.  

11. Mindlessly using an online template

Looking for an easy fix? Sure, some of the CV templates online look amazing. The problem is, they're rarely developed with ATS in mind. What’s more, they’re never developed with you – the applicant – in mind. Your CV is a personal document that needs to fit around your career and aspirations. 

What to do instead: Take inspiration from the designs you like online, but always write the words before considering formatting. Prioritise the content that will sell you and always bear ATS compatibility in mind.

12. Leaving out the profile

Rather than diving into your career history as soon as you've got your contact details on the page, every good CV these days has a Professional Profile (also known as a CV summary). 

A bad CV will either omit or underestimate the importance of the profile, leading to a weak introduction. 

What to do instead: Spend time crafting a high-impact elevator pitch stating exactly what you do, what you specialise in, your unique selling point, and how you can add value to a business – all in four or five lines. 

13. Not proofreading the document 

Don’t fall at the final hurdle. When you’ve written your CV, there’s one last thing you need to do: proofread it. Sending over a CV littered with typos and spelling mistakes will get you nowhere fast. It shows a lack of professionalism and will hold you back. 

What to do instead: CV proofreading is a must – always do this before submitting your application. You can also use websites, such as Grammarly, to check it for you.

Banish bad CVs for good!

Equipped with this list of CV mistakes and bad CV examples, you're ready to prepare your own interview-winning document. You know what not to do but, most importantly, you know what you should do instead to land your CV on the “YES” pile. 

If you want to check that you've avoided the most common mistakes found on a bad CV, why not request a free CV review? Our experts will let you know if there are any red flags. 

This article was originally written by Jen David and Yasmin Panahizadi Booth, and has been updated by Charlotte Grainger.

Recommended reading:

• What your CV should look like: tips to get noticed

• No interviews? How to improve your CV success rate

• The art of self-marketing: promoting your skills and achievements to an employer