South African recruiters review hundreds of CVs for every entry-level position. Most spend fewer than 30 seconds on each one before deciding whether to shortlist or reject. In that brief window, certain mistakes will guarantee your application lands in the 'no' pile. Here are the five most common errors and how to fix them.
1. Spelling and Grammar Errors
This is the number one reason CVs get rejected at the screening stage. A CV riddled with typos signals carelessness — exactly the opposite of what employers want. Common mistakes include confusing 'their' and 'there', writing 'recieved' instead of 'received', and inconsistent tense usage. Before submitting, read your CV aloud, use a spell checker, and ask someone you trust to proofread it. Tools like Grammarly can catch errors you might miss.
2. Using a Generic CV for Every Application
Sending the same CV to every employer is one of the biggest mistakes job seekers make. Each role has different requirements, and your CV should reflect that. Read the job description carefully and adjust your personal statement, skills, and experience to match what the employer is looking for. If the listing mentions 'attention to detail' and 'Excel proficiency', make sure those exact phrases appear in your CV. This is especially important for companies using ATS software that scans for keywords.
3. Including Irrelevant Personal Information
Your CV is not a biography. South African labour law does not require you to disclose your age, marital status, religion, or ID number on your CV. Including this information wastes valuable space and can lead to unconscious bias. Stick to your name, contact number, email address, and city of residence. A professional email address is essential — 'coolboy2005@gmail.com' will not inspire confidence.
4. Poor Formatting and Layout
A cluttered, hard-to-read CV frustrates recruiters. Common formatting mistakes include using multiple fonts, inconsistent spacing, walls of text without bullet points, and CVs that stretch to three or four pages. For entry-level positions, one page is ideal. Use clear section headings, consistent bullet points, and plenty of white space. Remember that many recruiters first view your CV on a mobile phone, so simplicity is key.
5. Lying or Exaggerating
It might be tempting to inflate your qualifications or invent work experience, but this is a career-ending mistake. South African employers routinely verify qualifications through the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and conduct background checks through services like MIE. Getting caught in a lie does not just cost you the job — it can blacklist you from future opportunities with that company and damage your professional reputation.
How to Fix Your CV Today
The good news is that all of these mistakes are fixable. Take 30 minutes to review your CV against this checklist. Better yet, use our free ATS Score Checker to get instant feedback on your CV's formatting, keywords, and readability. A small investment of time now can make the difference between getting an interview and getting ignored.