5 Reasons Why Your CVs Are Rejected

If your CV or job applications has been rejected recently then it’s better to check out our list of possible reasons.

#1 – Poor Layout and Presentation

Have you ever heard of the expression; ‘First impressions matter?’ Well, the presentation of your CV is usually your first impression with potential employers. It can either make or break the chances of you being invited for an interview.

Common presentation mistakes on CVs:

• A random/boring/depressing CV template is used
• Headings are not distinguishable enough the regular text
• Text is not aligned properly (i.e. improper indentation, justification, and spacing)
• White space is not applied effectively (e.g. A LOT of text squeezed into two pages).

#2 – Length

Employers do not have time to read your life story or autobiography. All they are interested in is a brief outline of your key skills, attributes, work experience and educational background. If you cannot achieve this within 2 pages, I’m afraid you must go back to the drawing board.

The length of your CV should be no more than two A4 pages. Period. It should also be no less than two pages; except if you’re a person with little experience (such as a school leaver).

#3 – Not tailored to the job

How is it possible to send the same CV to so many different jobs? Aren’t all the jobs different from each other? Of course they are! It is very difficult – read: impossible – to find two identical job vacancies.

Therefore, think twice next time you want to print 200 copies of the same CV. Then, think again and again until you change your mind and you only print 1 copy of your CV tailored to one particular job… You will be amazed by the results.

#4 – Silly mistakes

Any spelling and grammar mistake, no matter how small it is, can be CATASTROPHIC to the success of your CV.

Some people might think that I am over-reacting and that a small and insignificant spelling mistake is human to make; it can happen to anyone and it’s not a big deal as long as you have good education and work experience.

Please, allow me to shed some light on what real employers think when they come across an ‘insignificant’ spelling mistake on a CV:

• If he couldn’t be bothered to take a little time out and write 2 pages properly, why should I take time out to read this!
• He hasn’t got attention to detail
• He doesn’t care
• He doesn’t strive for perfection

Any of these reasons are good enough for your CV to go straight to the rejection pile!

#5 – A more suitable candidate was given preference over you

Remember that you’re not the only person who might be applying for this particular job. Usually, there are at least half a dozen of well-qualified individuals just like you. In this case, it is possible that someone else’s CV was ‘more suitable’ to the job and therefore yours was inevitably rejected.

“Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail.”

photo by: melody