Top 5 CV Mistakes, A great CV is still your golden ticket to landing interviews—but many South Africans continue to make the same mistakes that cost them opportunities.
Whether you’re applying for your first job or trying to level up your career, avoiding these common CV blunders can put you miles ahead of the competition.
Related: How to Write a South African CV That Gets Interviews
Here are the top 5 CV mistakes South Africans are still making in 2025 and how to fix them:
1. Using One CV for Every Job Application
The Mistake:
Sending out the same generic CV to every employer.
Why It Hurts:
Recruiters want to see that you’re a perfect fit for their role—not just any job.
What to Do Instead:
Tailor your CV to match the job description. Use keywords from the ad, highlight relevant experience, and tweak your personal summary.
🔧 Pro Tip: Create a “core” CV and duplicate it for each application, adjusting the job title and key skills.
2. Including Outdated or Irrelevant Information
The Mistake:
Listing outdated education, old jobs from more than 10 years ago, or irrelevant achievements like “Captain of the Chess Club – 2009.”
Why It Hurts:
It clutters your CV and distracts from what matters now.
What to Do Instead:
Keep it focused on the last 5–10 years and only include what’s relevant to the role you’re applying for.
🧼 Keep your CV lean, clean, and current. Two pages is plenty for most professionals.
3. Weak or Missing Personal Statement
The Mistake:
Writing a vague summary like: “I am a hardworking and motivated individual looking for a challenging opportunity.”
Why It Hurts:
It’s generic and tells the recruiter nothing specific about you.
What to Do Instead:
Craft a compelling personal statement that answers:
- Who are you?
- What do you bring to the table?
- What kind of role are you looking for?
✍️ Example: “Recent BCom Marketing graduate with internship experience at a top FMCG company. Skilled in social media strategy, content creation, and market research. Eager to join a fast-paced digital agency in Johannesburg.”
4. Poor Layout and Design
The Mistake:
Messy formatting, hard-to-read fonts, or trying to be “creative” with colors and icons.
Why It Hurts:
If a CV isn’t scannable in 6–10 seconds, it’s often discarded.
What to Do Instead:
Use a clean, professional format with clear sections:
- Personal Info
- Personal Statement
- Education
- Work Experience
- Skills
- Certifications or Achievements
💡 Use free templates from Canva or Microsoft Word—but always customize them.
5. Leaving Out Measurable Achievements
The Mistake:
Only listing job responsibilities (e.g. “Answering phones” or “Helping customers”).
Why It Hurts:
It doesn’t show impact. Employers want to see results.
What to Do Instead:
Add numbers, percentages, or outcomes:
- “Resolved 95% of customer queries within 24 hours”
- “Increased social media engagement by 120% in 3 months”
- “Cut inventory processing time by 30%”
📈 Numbers speak louder than duties. Show what you accomplished!
BONUS: Proofread Like a Pro
Even one typo can ruin an otherwise excellent CV.
✔️ Read your CV out loud
✔️ Ask a friend to review it
✔️ Use free tools like Grammarly or LanguageTool
Final Thoughts
Your CV is your first impression—and first impressions count. By avoiding these 5 mistakes, you’re already ahead of most applicants in South Africa.
Remember: tailor your CV, keep it clean, highlight results, and stay relevant.
