No Interviews? 6 Common Reasons for CV Failure

22‏‏/10‏‏/2022

Have you been applying for jobs for weeks yet not secured a single interview?

Simply put, the current job market is much more competitive, as there are multiple qualified candidates for a limited number of open roles.

1. Your CV is Not Optimized for ATS

Studies show that 80% of the largest global companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to manage their recruiting process and help prescreen CVs.

 Companies often get hundreds of applications for a single position.

As a result, recruiters use ATS systems to save time and automatically filter out irrelevant CVs.

 It searches for specific keywords and qualifications to see whether you match the job description or not.

2. Lots of Mistakes

Careless CV or cover letter mistakes are one of the top reasons applicants get rejected.

 When recruiters receive hundreds of applications for a position, more than one candidate will likely be suitable.

 Any error or inconsistency signals carelessness and poor attention to detail, which may be a red flag, especially when there are plenty of other candidates to choose from.

3. Your CV Does Not Match the Job Description

Your CV should be tailored to the job you are applying for and incorporate relevant keywords and skills noted on the job description accordingly.

In other words, connect the dots for the recruiters. Don't leave. Please don’t figure out how your experience will make you successful in your target role.

4. You Do Not Have the Minimum Qualifications or Skills Required

A recruiter's job is to find the right person for the role based on the information provided in the job description.

On most job descriptions, you'll see required and preferred qualifications. These are intended to make the life of both applicants and recruiters easier by outlining exactly what is expected.

It would help if you made sure that the skills and qualifications you do have are present on your CV.

5. Not Listing Your Achievements

It’s all well and good listing your skills, but without context, these don’t mean to the recruiter.

So, you need to make sure you’re giving examples of your achievements.

Using facts and figures to show what you’ve achieved during your time in education and your previous roles helps to show the employer how you can add real value to their business.

6. Using Too Many Clichés

Are you a passionate Swimmer team player who works well with others and on your own?

That’s great!

But it will not encourage the recruiter to keep reading your CV.

Employers are fed up with the same old clichés which don’t help them to decide if you’re a good fit for the role.

As such, you should avoid filling your CV with these clichés and instead make sure that you list your core skills and achievements to show how you can add real value to the employer.

Clichés = CV failure x 100

If you’re putting effort into applying for jobs but having trouble making it to the interview stage, don’t be discouraged.

The hiring market is tough right now, so a challenge is expected.

However, by adding valuable information to adjust your CV, you’ll improve your job applications and be more successful in the hiring process.