It’s spring. You graduated last summer and you’re still looking for your first role in your chosen field. We get it, it’s tough out there. But with another wave of new graduates about to enter the market, it’s more important than ever to make sure your CV is working for you, not against you.
Here are some of the most common mistakes I’ve been spotting on graduate CVs recently:
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Being vague or dishonest about dates of study:
If you interrupted your studies or repeated a year, due to Covid, illness, or simply finding university life challenging, be honest about it. A decent interviewer will spot when dates don’t quite add up and will ask. A clear, confident explanation is far better than something vague or evasive, which raises more red flags than the truth ever would.
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Leaving off work experience that “doesn’t count”:
Remember all those shifts at the pub, restaurant, or golf club? That is real work experience. It demonstrates reliability, teamwork, problem-solving and resilience. Leave it off, and a hiring manager may assume you’ve never held down a job at all.
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Stretching the dates of your work experience:
“2024–2025” could mean 24 months, or it could mean two. If you completed a short-term or project-based role, just say so. All experience has value. What matters is being able to clearly explain what you did, what you achieved, and what skills you developed, even in a short space of time.
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Calling everything ‘freelancing’:
Helped a friend with a creative project? Built a website for a charity? Designed a logo for a local group? Fantastic! these are great examples of applying your skills and showing initiative. But unless you’ve been consistently taking on paid projects for multiple clients, it isn’t freelancing. You can (and should) still include this work on your CV, especially if it contributes to a portfolio. Just don’t overstate it. Interviewers spot exaggeration quickly.
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