Jobseekers are hurting their chances of securing new employment by not spending enough time on their CV, according to a new survey.
The most common mistake is sending a general CV to employers, rather than tailoring it to a specific role, according to research by the National Careers Service.
Two thirds of careers advisers said this stopped people securing jobs.
More than 60% of advisers said spelling mistakes were a common error.
Joe Billington, director of the National Careers Service, said: "People know they are making mistakes, but they are not spending enough time on making sure their CV is fit for purpose."
Most careers advisers believe people should spend an hour a week working on their CV, but fewer than a third of jobseekers agree.
The report was based on polls of almost 200 careers advisers from the National Careers Service and over 2,000 jobseekers.
The National Careers Service, which provides information and advice on learning, training and work opportunities, says jobseekers should follow some basic steps to improve their CVs:
- Ensure the email address you send your application from isn't quirky. liketoparty69@hotmail isn't likely to be taken seriously, it warns
- Check your CV carefully for spelling and grammar mistakes
- Avoid common clichés such as 'team player' and 'results driven'
- Make small adaptations to your CV to target the specific requirements of the job you're applying for.
Source: BBC News - Business http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24201307#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa