Recruiters spend less time on your CV than you do choosing a Netflix show. On average? 7 seconds. That’s barely enough to read your name before deciding if you’re worth a callback — or a hard swipe left.
The truth is, most CVs don’t get rejected because the person isn’t qualified. They get rejected because the CV itself screams “next!”
If you’re tired of sending applications into the void (aka Ghosted City), it’s time to fix the mistakes that make recruiters run. Here are 5 CV fails that instantly kill your chances — and how to flip them into swipe-right material.
1. The Wall of Text CV
Looks more like a novel than a resumé. Recruiters aren’t reading “Chapter 7: My Summer Internship.”
Why it’s bad: A dense CV screams “time sink” and makes important info invisible.
Fix it: Keep it clean. Use bullet points, clear headings, and focus on achievements (“Increased sales by 30%”) not job duties (“Responsible for sales”).
2. Buzzword Overload
“Hardworking, passionate, detail-oriented, team player.” Blah blah blah. Recruiters have seen it 1,000 times today.
Why it’s bad: It tells them nothing about what you’ve actually done.
Fix it: Replace fluff with proof. Instead of “detail-oriented,” show them: “Reduced data errors by 25% with new system.”
3. Ghosts of Jobs Past
That part-time gig from 2009 where you folded jeans at the mall? Yeah, it doesn’t belong.
Why it’s bad: Irrelevant or outdated roles clutter your story and make you look unfocused.
Fix it: Trim the fat. Only list recent and relevant roles that add weight to your application.
4. Design Disaster
Comic Sans font. Rainbow colors. Tables that break when uploaded. Recruiters are not graphic designers, and they don’t want to solve your formatting puzzle.
Why it’s bad: Ugly, cluttered CVs go straight to the trash.
Fix it: Stick to simple, professional fonts (Arial, Calibri). One color max. Save as PDF so it doesn’t break.
5. ATS Suicide
Applicant Tracking Systems (aka the robots) can’t read text hidden in images, weird templates, or fancy icons.
Why it’s bad: If the bot can’t read your CV, a recruiter will never even see it.
Fix it: Use standard formatting, avoid text boxes, and include keywords from the job posting. Robots first, humans second.
✅ Quick Recap
Your CV is like a dating profile: too long, too fake, too outdated, too messy, or unreadable? Swipe left. Keep it short, sharp, and tailored, and you’ll land in the “match” pile faster.
Ready to turn your CV into swipe-right material? 🚀
Don’t stop here — check out our next post: [“ATS Explained Like You’re 5: How to Beat Resume Robots”].
Because before you impress the recruiter, you’ve got to charm the robot. 🤖✨