5 Most Common CV BlundersFirst round of enhancements

Workshop

Dr. Arvind Agrawal

1. Content Errors

• CV created to give information rather than ‘sell’ services

• Overuse / underuse of power words• Information not presented from Company

executive’s point of view• Providing excessive information• Exceeding 2 pages

2. Using complex language

• Long paragraphs• Long sentences• High-blown expressions• Too many words where few will suffice • Makes distinction / sense in single reading?• 3-Minute test

Words to avoid on CV

• Capable• Scalable• Hard working• Creative• Innovative• Communication skills • Motivated • Skillful

• Exceptional• Effective• Energetic• Successfully• Organizational• Extreme words like

Go-getter, synergy, out-of-box,

Bring in functional elements

• Created new employee orientation program• Initiated cost-saving procedure• Secured 5 new accounts worth $2K each in monthly

revenue• Negotiated contentious labor contract successfully• Increased line productivity 23%• Ranked 1st in sales among peers• Executed new employee incentive program• Achieved Employee of the Year for breaking existing

sales record

Examples

Words to have on CV

• Achieved• Improved• Trained• mentored• Managed• Created

• Resolved• Volunteered• Influenced• Negotiated• Launched• Revenue

3. Proof Reading

• Spellings• Care not taken for lower / UPPER case• Punctuation marks

4. Formatting Errors

• Not using bold / italics / underlines, etc judiciously

• Inconsistency in alignment / listing pattern• Selection of fonts / font size / font colors• Margins

5. Finishing Errors

• Selection of paper• First print vs. photocopy• How does CV appear / feel on first glance?

Questions please!

Take-away-s?

Thank you!