Your CV is often your first chance to make an impression with a potential employer. In a competitive job market, it needs to be sharp, relevant and mistake-free. Yet, many business students unknowingly make the same avoidable errors which could cost them an interview.
Here are five common CV mistakes and how you can fix them to stand out for the right reasons.
1. Using a Generic CV for every application
The mistake: Sending the same CV to every employer, regardless of the role.
Why it matters: Recruiters can spot a generic CV instantly. It shows a lack of effort and doesn’t highlight how your skills match the specific role you're interested in.
How to fix it:
- Tailor your CV for EACH application.
- Use keywords from the job description.
- Highlight relevant modules, projects, or placements that align with the role.
2. Focusing too much on job duties, not achievements
The mistake: Listing only what you were “responsible for” instead of what you actually accomplished.
Why it matters: Employers want to see impact, not just tasks.
How to fix it:
- Use action verbs and quantify results, where possible. For example, instead of saying “Responsible for managing social media” you might say “Increased Instagram engagement by X% over Y months using a targeted content strategy focussed on Z.”
3. Overloading with buzzwords and jargon
The mistake: Using generic terms like “team player”, “hard worker” or “go-getter” without (much like the point above) any evidence.
Why it matters: These words are overused and don’t demonstrate your value.
How to fix it:
- Show - don’t tell. Use examples to demonstrate your skills. For example, instead of saying “excellent communicator”, you might describe a time you led a group presentation or negotiated with a client during a placement.
4. Poor formatting and layout
The mistake: Using inconsistent fonts, cluttered layouts, or overly creative designs.
Why it matters: A messy CV is hard to read and might be rejected by an applicant tracking system (ATS), if used.
How to fix it:
- Keep it clean and professional: use clear headings, bullet points, and consistent formatting.
- Stick to one or two fonts and avoid excessive colours or graphics unless you’re applying for a creative role (and, even then, proceed with care).
5. Leaving out transferable skills and university experience
The mistake: Thinking you don’t have enough experience to fill a CV.
Why it matters: Employers can value transferable skills gained through university, part-time jobs, and extracurricular activity.
How to fix it:
- Include relevant examples - these might be group projects, presentations, volunteering, or student society roles.
- Emphasise skills like leadership, time management, and problem-solving - even if they weren’t gained in a formal job - which you think you have demonstrated and which you think are relevant for the role you're considering.
✅ Final tips and how to get expert advice
- Keep your CV to one page if you’re a student or recent graduate.
- Always proofread - spelling and grammar mistakes can be deal-breakers.
- Most importantly, make sure you get advice - as student, you have access to the University's Employability Team whose Employability Skills Advisors can review your CV, help you complete an application and also even prepare you for an interview!
As a Greenwich Business School student, we’ll help prepare you to launch your career. From career mentoring to the chance of a placement on many of our taught undergraduate courses (and some of our taught postgraduate courses) and from networking and industry insight to support to launch your business venture, we can help you stand out in today's job market.
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