1. Previous Employer Details Some people will include under each previous employer a full postal address and contact information. You have to ask the question, what value does this add? For the precious space it takes up on your CV it doesn't add much value. If a recruiter/employer needs references they will ask you and if they want to find out more about a previous employer, they can easily do so through the internet or business directories.
Employer details like this are unnecessary and clutter useful space for other vital pieces of information when writing a good CV. We would advise not to do it.
2. Writing a CV that is Too long or “Too Wordy”
One of the most common CV mistakes made by people is that their CV is just too long or too wordy. Remember, recruiters and employers have lots of CV's to go through, so writing your whole life story or including absolutely everything can be a big turn off – we have seen people lose out on interviews before by doing this.
Ideally a good CV should be 2 pages so that the recruiter or employer can gain a clear, concise and quick insight into your skills and background that will prompt them into inviting you in for Interview. 3 or 4 is not a crime but it needs to be good!
3. Writing a ‘Generic CV' used for every Job Application
Many people will make the mistake of writing a generic CV and use it to apply to every Job and employer. Put yourself in a recruiters shoes for a moment; if you are an employer who needs to recruit a Design Engineer for your Medical Devices company (for example), and you see 2 CV's for people who have never worked in the sector before, BUT 1 has outlined their transferable skills to a Medical Device, and the other hasn't. Which one would you choose?
The rule is simple, if you are applying to a variety of Jobs or in areas you have not worked before, tailoring and tweaking your CV to suit a particular Job application is vital if you are going to secure an Interview.
4. Including a Photograph with your CV
It is a common CV mistake to include a photograph with a CV, as some people claim it will enhance your resume. We have asked Engineering Recruiters, and the majority disagree. The reason for this is that some employers will make a first impression from this picture and may judge you on what you are wearing in the photograph, your smile and posture etc. We would recommend not including a photograph unless the employer asks for one.
Further CV Advice
Would you like some further CV advice? Why not ask the experts? TheEngineersCV.co.uk is a team of professional consultants with a combined 18 years experience within Engineering Recruitment. We provide One-to-One CV Writing and CV Editing Services to Engineering professionals across the UK and Europe.
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