18/09/2026
We reviewed 300+ CVs this month.
The same 3 mistakes kept showing up, again and again.
Here are the 3 things quietly killing interview chances.
Even for genuinely strong candidates.
๐ญ. ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ฑ ๐น๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด โ ๐ด๐ผ๐ผ๐ฑ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ง๐ฆ
Most rejected CVs actually look great.
The real problem starts when a machine reads them, not a human.
Quick test:
Select your CV's text from top to bottom, like you're about to copy it.
Does it highlight in a mixed or broken order?
Jumping between columns. Skipping sections. Scrambling dates.
If yes, that's exactly how the ATS reads it too.
Confusing order. Confused system. Silent rejection.
Usual culprits:
Multi-column layouts. Icons. Text boxes. Tables. Graphics.
They look great to a human.
They read like noise to a machine.
๐ฎ. ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ
Most CVs read like a job description.
"Responsible for managing a team."
"Duties included reporting to senior stakeholders."
Recruiters aren't hiring you for what you were responsible for.
They're hiring you for what you actually changed.
Duties tell them where you sat.
Outcomes tell them what you're capable of.
๐ฏ. ๐๐ผ๐ป'๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐๐ฉ ๐ท๐๐๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ฎ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ ๐น๐ถ๐บ๐ถ๐
The 1-2 page "rule" isn't wrong.
But it's often used the wrong way.
It should push you to cut what's not needed.
It shouldn't push you to squeeze everything into tiny fonts and tight margins.
Recruiters spend 6-8 seconds on a first scan.
If your best achievements are buried in a wall of tiny text, that works against you.
A CV with clear space and 3 strong pages beats a cramped, unreadable 1-pager. Every time.
Your CV might be doing all three of these right now.
You may not even know it.
Want a free audit?
Just DM me "AUDIT" and I'll review it for you.