Red Flags to Remove From Your CV for Better Hiring Chances – International Edition

• A Curriculum Vitae (CV) serves as your initial encounter with a potential employer, and you aim to create the strongest impact possible.
• A well-crafted resume effectively highlights your credentials while demonstrating your professionalism, communication abilities, and meticulousness.
• Career counselor Simon Ingari points out that various warning signs can adversely affect a candidate's chances of getting hired.

A .co.ke correspondent named Japhet Ruto boasts more than eight years of expertise in covering finance, commerce, and technological advancements. He provides profound perspectives on both Kenya’s and international economic patterns.

A resume serves as a personal promotional instrument, showcasing your skills, history, and accomplishments to potential employers.

As this is often your initial encounter with a hiring manager, you aim to create the strongest impression possible.

A well-crafted resume effectively highlights your credentials, professional demeanor, ability to communicate, and precision in details.

Conversely, a subpar resume might suggest a deficiency in effort or skill, greatly diminishing your odds of securing an interview.

Career counselor Simon Ingari points out that various warning signs can adversely affect a candidate's chances of landing a job.

What indicators should you look for when reviewing a resume?

1. Information that is not relevant or has become obsolete

Including unnecessary job experiences could overcrowd your CV and divert attention from your key strengths and achievements.

As per Ingari, your CV should highlight the most pertinent experiences and skills if it is customized for the specific job you're targeting.

Irrelevant information encompasses your primary and high school background should you have pursued higher education, as well as your marital status, birthdate, religious affiliation, and identification number.

“For instance, when applying for a nutrition position, mentioning that you've worked as a sales executive at Nivea could be seen as irrelevant. Adding unnecessary information just to lengthen your resume often backfires,” he elaborated.

2. Your hobbies

Ingari observed that no employer would include your CV among their top choices due to your passion for traveling.

He mentioned, 'It could be a travel agent position.'

3. Mistakes in spelling and grammar

grammatical mistakes and typing errors are among the most noticeable red flags. These can convey an incorrect impression and indicate a deficiency in meticulousness.

The National Library of Medicine states that spelling mistakes on resumes can compromise your chances of getting an interview.

For example, despite having the necessary credentials, a candidate applying for an “accountant” role but misspelling it as “acountant” may likely get overlooked.

Utilize tools such as spell check or ask someone else to review your CV to avoid errors.

4. Lack of keywords

As stated by BrighterMonday, a recruiting company, incorporating relevant job-related keywords can enhance your likelihood of making the shortlist.

Technology has fundamentally transformed our lives. For instance, hiring managers employ computer programs to sift through resumes and choose the most suitable candidates according to specific criteria.

"If your CV doesn’t include specific keywords, the hiring software will automatically discard it from the recruitment process, even if you possess all the required qualifications, meaning that your CV won’t get reviewed," it said.

5. Poor CV structure

A CV that lacks organization and clarity might discourage hiring managers from considering your application.

## Key Points for Improved Readability - **Headings**: Utilize appropriate section titles. - **Bullet Points**: Employ lists where applicable for clarity. - **Layout & Formatting**: Ensure consistency throughout your document.

Make sure your CV presents ideas and information in a logical sequence that aligns with what you've stated in your cover letter.

6. Excessive length

Make sure your résumé is concise and direct, preferably not exceeding two pages.

A long résumé may appear intimidating and is less likely to be read completely.

How can one create an effective resume?

The competition for employment is intensifying in an economy where millions of people remain without jobs.

Nicole Mballah, who works as a professional CV writer for BrighterMonday, advises individuals looking for employment to emphasize their strong points through their resumes in order to distinguish themselves from other applicants.

"HR managers receive numerous CVs, and studies indicate they typically spend around seven seconds reviewing each resume. Therefore, your CV must be appealing, concise, and meticulously composed to capture the interest of both applicant tracking systems and the hiring manager who will review it," explained Mballah to .co.ke.

How to write a CV for an attachment application

In related news, .co.ke covered advice for crafting a CV when applying for an internship with little to no work experience.

Provide information about your degree, related classes taken, academic honors achieved, and any noteworthy projects or research that align with the position you’re applying for.

Despite lacking work experience, you probably possess skills that can be valuable in many situations. Emphasize your soft skills such as communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and flexibility.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, a current affairs journalist and copy editor at .co.ke.