One of the most common mistakes we see as recruiters is candidates underselling themselves. Often before they’ve even secured an interview.
Your CV is the very first thing that gets attention. Before a call, before a conversation, before anyone hears your story.
So often we see people list responsibilities instead of results. They downplay achievements. They use vague language like ‘assisted with’ or ‘involved in’ when actually, they led projects, drove impact, and delivered real outcomes.
If you don’t show your value on paper, you’re making it harder for yourself to even get through the door.
If you’re actively applying or planning to, these are simple changes that can make a big difference:
1. CV File Type – This is an easy one, send your CV as a PDF.
PDF is the preferred format for CVs because it preserves layout, fonts, and formatting consistently across all devices. This helps ensure your CV appears as intended to every recipient. While it’s a simple choice, it’s also the format we use when sharing profiles with our clients.
2. Consistent formatting – Your CV should be easy to scan with the same fonts, same spacing, same bullet style throughout.
When formatting is messy or inconsistent, it distracts from your experience. Instead of focusing on your skills and achievements, hiring managers notice the layout. This can make your CV harder to read and, in some cases, lead to it being overlooked.
Here’s and example of consistent formatting:
What is Different?
- Dates have been standardised (for example, using “November” consistently instead of “Nov”).
- Company names and job titles now follow the same format throughout.
- Bullet points are uniform, making responsibilities easier to scan.
- Bold text is used consistently to highlight key information and guide the reader’s eye.
Why Does this matter?
- Hiring Managers scan quickly for important details.
- Ensure your CV looks professional and organised.
- Avoid distraction from inconsistent styling.
- Improve readability on different devices and software.
3. Show achievements, not just responsibilities – Don’t just list what your job was, show what you did.
Hiring managers want to see impact. Wherever possible, turn duties into outcomes by highlighting results, projects delivered, problems solved, or improvements made. Even better, add numbers or measurable outcomes (revenue generated, time saved, targets exceeded). This helps bring your experience to life and immediately shows your value.
4. Tailoring your CV to the role – In your profile summary make sure its relevant to the role you are applying for.
If your profile summary doesn’t match the industry or role, it can raise questions and may prevent your application from moving forward.
Your CV is your first impression, make it count! Take a little extra time to present your experience clearly, confidently, and in a way that reflects your true value. These small changes can make a big difference.
