Most CVs are not rejected because of one big error. They are rejected because of several small, quiet ones that add up.

1. Leading with duties instead of results

Listing what a role involved says less than showing what you achieved in it. Lead with outcomes.

2. No tailoring per application

A CV built for every job is optimised for none of them. Adjust the emphasis for each role you apply to.

3. Inconsistent formatting

Small inconsistencies in spacing, tense, and punctuation read as carelessness to a recruiter scanning fast.

4. Burying the strongest line

Your best qualification should not be three lines down. Lead with it.

5. No clear throughline

A CV should read as one coherent career story, not a list of unrelated jobs.