Common CV Mistakes Graduates Make in 2025 and How to Fix Them

Landing your first job after graduation depends heavily on your CV. Yet, many fresh graduates make avoidable errors that reduce their chances of getting noticed by recruiters. In 2025, the job market remains competitive, and a well-crafted CV can make all the difference. This post highlights the most common CV mistakes graduates make and offers clear, practical solutions to fix them.

Gaps on the CV Without Explanation

Many graduates have gaps in their CVs, often due to internships, study breaks, or job searches. Leaving these gaps unexplained raises red flags for employers, who may assume a lack of commitment or other issues.

How to fix it:

• Briefly explain gaps with honest, positive reasons. For example, “Took six months to complete a professional certification” or “Focused on personal development and volunteer work.”

• Use a functional CV format that emphasizes skills over strict chronology if gaps are significant.

• Highlight any productive activities during gaps, such as freelance projects or online courses.

  
  

Incorrect or Inconsistent Dates

Mistakes in dates, such as overlapping job periods or impossible timelines, make recruiters question your attention to detail and honesty.

How to fix it:

• Double-check all dates for accuracy before submitting your CV.

• Use a consistent date format (e.g., MM/YYYY or Month Year) throughout.

• Avoid listing future dates or overlapping roles unless you clearly explain part-time or freelance work.

  
  

Including Irrelevant Work Experience

Graduates often list every job they ever had, including unrelated part-time or summer jobs that do not add value to their career goals. This clutters the CV and distracts from relevant skills.

How to fix it:

• Focus on work experience related to your target role or transferable skills like teamwork, communication, or problem-solving.

• Group unrelated jobs under a brief heading like “Additional Experience” without detailed descriptions.

• Use bullet points to highlight achievements relevant to the job you want.

  
  

Sloppy Layout and Poor Formatting

A messy CV with inconsistent fonts, spacing, or alignment looks unprofessional and can frustrate recruiters who scan dozens of applications quickly.

How to fix it:

• Use a clean, simple layout with clear headings and consistent font sizes.

• Align text neatly and use bullet points for easy reading.

• Limit your CV to one or two pages, depending on your experience.

• Use templates from trusted sources but customize them to avoid looking generic.

  
  

Grammar and Spelling Mistakes

Typos and grammatical errors undermine your credibility and suggest a lack of care.

How to fix it:

• Proofread your CV multiple times, ideally on different days.

• Use tools like Grammarly or Microsoft Word’s spell check but don’t rely solely on them.

• Ask a friend, mentor, or career advisor to review your CV for errors and clarity.

  
  

Example of a clean and professional CV layout

CV Too Lengthy

Some graduates try to include every detail, resulting in a CV that is too long and overwhelming. Recruiters spend only seconds on each CV, so lengthy documents reduce your chances.

How to fix it:

• Keep your CV concise, ideally one page for fresh graduates. Two pages only if you have extensive relevant experience.

• Focus on quality over quantity: highlight achievements and skills that match the job description.

• Remove outdated or irrelevant information, such as high school details if you have a degree.

  
  

Too Many Bullet Points

While bullet points improve readability, overusing them or having long lists can clutter your CV and make it hard to scan.

How to fix it:

• Limit bullet points to 3-5 per role or section.

• Use short, impactful phrases starting with action verbs like “Led,” “Developed,” or “Improved.”

• Group related points to avoid repetition and keep the CV balanced.

  
  

Too Much Clutter

Including unnecessary graphics, colors, or excessive information distracts from your qualifications and can confuse applicant tracking systems (ATS).

How to fix it:

• Stick to a simple color scheme, preferably black and white or subtle tones.

• Avoid photos, logos, or decorative elements unless specifically requested.

• Use white space effectively to separate sections and improve readability.

• Save your CV as a PDF to preserve formatting across devices.

  
  

Final Thoughts

A CV is your first chance to make a strong impression. Avoiding common mistakes like unexplained gaps, incorrect dates, irrelevant experience, and poor formatting will help your application stand out. Focus on clarity, relevance, and professionalism to show recruiters you are ready for the job market in 2025.