10 CV mistakes you really must avoid (2026)
One of these mistakes = instant rejection. We see them over and over. Walk through them and check if your CV has any.
Recruiters scan CVs in 6-7 seconds. In that short time they don't only look for strong points - they also look for reasons to reject. The 10 mistakes below are the most common reasons for instant rejection. No vague 'make it more personal' tips, but concrete mistakes you can fix today.
1. Spelling errors
The #1 reason for instant rejection. One typo in your email, company name or job title = application lost. Spelling errors signal sloppiness, and no recruiter wants a sloppy colleague. Fix: have at least 2 people read your CV. Microsoft Word spell check alone isn't enough - it misses context errors.
2. Too long CV (3+ pages)
For 95% of applicants 1-2 pages is the norm. Starters: 1 page. Mid-career (5-15 years experience): 2 pages. Senior (15+ years): max 2 pages. A third page recruiters don't read - so anything on it is wasted. Cut hobbies first, then oldest roles, then minor details.
3. Generic profile summary
'Driven professional with passion for growth and collaboration' - empty, says nothing, recruiters scroll past. Replace with: role + years + 2 specific strengths + 1 measurable result. Example: 'Senior Product Manager with 8 years B2B SaaS experience. Launched features that delivered €2.1M ARR.'
4. Bullets without numbers
'Responsible for administration' isn't an achievement, it's a job description. Recruiters want to see impact: time, money, percentages, counts. 'Streamlined administration, saved 6 hours per week' = achievement. Add numbers to at least 50% of your bullets.
5. Wrong structure
Standard order: profile summary → work experience → education → skills → languages → optional. Deviating is fine, but only with reason (e.g. starters without experience: education first). Original structures confuse ATS systems and recruiters. Be predictable in order, creative in content.
6. Outdated or irrelevant info
Higher-ed internship from 12 years ago, first side job from 2008, language level 'basic French' - cut. Anything older than 10-15 years doesn't belong on your CV (except relevant senior roles). Hobbies like 'watching movies' and 'travel' add nothing. Cut what doesn't contribute.
7. Unprofessional photo or photo with issues
In the Netherlands a photo is optional - recruiters often advise leaving it off (bias). But if you use one: professional, recent, neutral background, business attire. Holiday photos, car selfies, or photos with other people: no. When in doubt: no photo.
8. No LinkedIn URL
Recruiters check you on LinkedIn almost always. No URL on your CV = they have to search (hassle + sometimes wrong person). Add: linkedin.com/in/yourname, short and clickable. Make sure your profile is up-to-date and matches what's on your CV.
9. Bad filename
'cv.pdf', 'CV version 4 final.pdf', 'mycv.pdf' - unprofessional. Good filename: 'CV_Firstname_Lastname.pdf' or with job title: 'CV_Sophie_van_Berg_Marketing_Manager.pdf'. Recruiters save your CV with that name - make it recognizable.
10. No tailoring per vacancy
Sending one CV for 20 different vacancies = recruiters notice. Tailor at minimum: profile text, top 2 achievements, and keywords from the vacancy. Our AI helps you pick the right tone of voice per vacancy in 30 seconds. Generic CVs get spotted - tailored CVs get 3-5× more responses.
Do the check now
Walk through the 10 mistakes above on your current CV one by one. One or more present? Time to fix. Best way to eliminate all 10 at once: rebuild your CV on an ATS-friendly template (CVontwerper has 8). Free to build, €2 to download. The mistakes get flagged directly by our quality check while you build.
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