Common CV Mistakes That Are Costing You Job Offers (And How to Fix Them)

You Keep Applying, But No One’s Calling? Let’s Talk About Your CV.

If you’ve been sending out multiple job applications and wondering, “Bakit walang tumatawag?”—you’re not alone. Many Filipino job seekers struggle to land interviews, not because they’re unqualified, but because their CVs aren’t working for them. As an HR professional who has reviewed thousands of applications, I can tell you: a weak CV can cost you the job—before you even get a chance to prove yourself.

But don’t worry, I won’t just tell you what’s wrong—I’ll show you exactly how to write a good curriculum vitae:

Mistake #1: Using One Generic CV for Every Application

I get it. It’s tempting to create only one CV and send it to multiple companies to save time. But guess what? Recruiters can tell. A generic one lacks focus—it doesn’t highlight why you’re the best fit for that specific role.

How to fix it?

✅ Customize your CV for each job by tweaking your skills and experiences to match the job posting.

✅ Use keywords from the job description. If they’re looking for someone with administrative support experience, for example, make your CV naturally reflect that.

Mistake #2: Listing Too Many (or Irrelevant) Details

Filipinos love being thorough—sometimes too much. I’ve seen lots of CVs with 4-5 pages listing every seminar attended, every school competition won, and every single task ever done at work. Employers don’t need your life story—they need to see if you’re the right fit for the job.

How to fix it?

✅ Keep your it concise—stick to one or two pages max.

✅ Focus on recent and relevant experience. Your elementary school awards? Hindi na kailangan.

✅ Instead of listing every task, highlight your impact—what did you accomplish?

Mistake #3: Poor Formatting & Cluttered Design

Your CV isn’t a brochure—it should be clean, professional, and easy to read. Many job seekers make the mistake of using fancy fonts, excessive colors, or cluttered layouts that make it difficult for recruiters to find key information.

How to fix it?

✅ Use a simple, professional layout with clear headings and bullet points.

✅ Stick to one or two fonts (Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman are safe choices).

✅ Ensure there’s enough white space to make reading easy.

Mistake #4: Not Highlighting Your Key Skills & Achievements

A common mistake? Listing responsibilities instead of achievements. Saying “Managed company files” is okay, but saying “Implemented a filing system that reduced retrieval time by 40%” is better—it shows impact. One of the biggest mistakes job seekers make is focusing on responsibilities rather than achievements.

How to fix it?

✅ Use action words like developed, led, implemented, and streamlined.

✅ Focus on results. How did your work benefit the company?

✅ Include a Skills to put on a CV section that directly relates to the job you’re applying for.

Mistake #5: Grammar & Spelling Errors

It seems simple, but you'd be shocked at how many CVs have typos. HR managers will notice if you apply for a position that says “Admin Assistant” but spell it “Admine Asistant.” 

This can give the impression that you are not detail-oriented.

In competitive job markets—like those searching for in-demand careers in Clark Pampanga—small errors can mean the difference between getting an interview and being overlooked.

How to fix it?

✅ Proofread! Read your CV out loud.

✅ Use Grammarly or ask a friend to check for errors.

✅ Double-check details like your contact information (Yes, people accidentally mistype their own phone numbers!).

What Now? Time to Make Your CV HR-Approved.

If you’ve been making these mistakes, don’t panic. The good news? Now that you know what to fix, you can make changes today that will increase your chances of getting noticed.

✅ Review your CV right now—does it highlight your strengths effectively? 

✅ Tailor it for the job you want.

✅ Make sure it’s clear, concise, and error-free.

Your CV is your first impression—make it count. Now go fix that CV and get that callback!