A few months ago, I was deep in the job-hunting trenches, sending out applications like there was no tomorrow. I thought I had a decent CV — after all, I’d spent hours tweaking its design and text to make it “great”. But the reality hit hard. After submitting 100 applications, I landed just one interview and one online assessment. That’s a 2% conversion rate — a number that would terrify any job seeker. I knew something was wrong, and I was determined to figure out what. Looking back, my old CV was a textbook example of what not to do. It had two critical mistakes that were silently sabotaging my chances. not First, the styling was a disaster for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). I styled it myself to make it stand out, without using any template, but I didn’t realize that ATS software — the gatekeeper for most job applications — couldn’t read it properly. To the machine, my CV was practically invisible. Second, I wasted valuable space with a text block profile at the top. Instead of showcasing achievements and experience, I wrote a generic paragraph about myself. It looked nice, but it did nothing to grab attention or get me interviews. The lesson was clear: a CV isn’t a portfolio or a biography — it’s a tool. tool If it’s not getting you interviews, it’s not working. That 2% conversion rate was a wake-up call. I decided to redo my CV from scratch, this time focusing on what actually works. I dug into the best practices and distilled them into five key rules that transformed my job-hunting game. five key rules five key rules Highlight key achievements - showcase your most valuable/relevant experience
Show impact with numbers - use numerical data to demonstrate results that you achieved at work or during studies
Keep it simple - easy to read, both in styling and in meaning
Stick to one page - HR do not have much time, make it short and to the point
Use keywords - helps to pass the ATS scanning Highlight key achievements - showcase your most valuable/relevant experience Show impact with numbers - use numerical data to demonstrate results that you achieved at work or during studies Keep it simple - easy to read, both in styling and in meaning Stick to one page - HR do not have much time, make it short and to the point Use keywords - helps to pass the ATS scanning The results? My new CV achieved a 20% conversion rate, landing me interviews for 1 in every 5 applications — a massive leap that opened doors I never thought possible. 20% conversion rate On the first day with my new CV, I sent out 5 applications and got 3 invites to interviews! On the first day with my new CV, I sent out 5 applications and got 3 invites to interviews! If my journey taught me anything, it’s that a good CV isn’t about looking pretty — it’s about working smart. Want to take your CV to the next level and see results like I did? working smart Let’s chat! Add me on Linked In Linked In Linked In See examples of good CVs here! here here Feel free to reach out to me on LI or TG for any questions you might have 🚀🚀🚀

This story contains new, firsthand information uncovered by the writer.

This One CV Mistake Made Me Invisible to Hiring Algorithms

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