What are some common mistakes or gripes you find with CVs?
very long personal profiles that repeat information in the CV, and claim a very long list of skills of aptitudes. A personal profile isn’t needed at all if you are applying with a cover letter.
Not back dating entries - always put your academic and work experience sections in the most recent entry first
bolding random words in work experience descriptions to suggest that word in more important than the rest
over-crowding sections to make it fit a page or two pages. You need to make it easy for the reader to read and if it just looks like a crowded block of text, it won’t encourage the person to do so.
Font sizes below 10 (also difficult to read)
Over use of italics (also difficult to read)
Repeating headings - eg saying “As an Intern at Joe Bloggs LLP, worked in the Litigation team for four weeks” directly after the heading says
Litigation Intern, Joe Bloggs LLP, 1 - 28 July 2019
Putting your contact details in a heading or footing format on the word document, and then repeating it on the second page
Headings like “Non-relevant work experience” (if it’s non-relevant, don’t include it - but really a better heading is just “Other work experience” or “Part-time work & volunteering”)
University or School addresses (not needed)