• A Curriculum Vitae (CV) serves as your initial encounter with a hiring manager, and you aim to create the strongest impact possible.
• A well-crafted resume effectively highlights your credentials while demonstrating your level of professionalism, proficiency in communication, and precision in work.
• Career counselor Simon Ingari points out that various warning signs can adversely affect a candidate's chances of getting hired.

The Sport.Bangjo.co.id.co.ke correspondent Japhet Ruto brings more than eight years of expertise in covering finance, business, and technological sectors, providing profound perspectives on Kenya’s and international economic patterns.

A resume serves as a personal promotional instrument, highlighting your skills, history, and accomplishments for potential hiring managers.

As this is typically your initial encounter with a hiring manager, it's essential to create the strongest impression possible.

A well-crafted resume effectively highlights your credentials, professional image, ability to communicate, and precision in details.

Conversely, a subpar resume might suggest a deficiency in effort or skill, greatly diminishing your odds of securing an interview.

Career counselor Simon Ingari points out that various warning signs can adversely affect a candidate's chances of landing a job.

What indicators should you watch for when reviewing a resume?

1. Information that is not relevant or has become obsolete

Including unrelated job experiences could render your CV overcrowded and detract attention from your key strengths and credentials.

Ingari suggests that your CV should highlight the most pertinent experiences and skills, specifically customized for the job you're applying for.

Irrelevant information encompasses your primary and high school background if you've pursued higher education, as well as your marital status, birthdate, religious affiliation, and identification number.

"For instance, when applying for a nutrition position, mentioning that you've worked as a sales executive at Nivea could be seen as irrelevant experience. In many instances, adding unnecessary information just to lengthen your resume can end up hurting your chances," he explained.

2. Your hobbies

Ingari pointed out that no employer would include your CV among their top choices since you enjoy traveling.

He mentioned, 'It could be a travel agent position,'.

3. Mistakes in spelling and grammar

grammatical mistakes and typographical errors are among the most noticeable red flags. These can create a negative impression and indicate a deficiency in meticulousness.

The National Library of Medicine states that spelling mistakes on resumes can compromise your chances of getting an interview.

For example, despite having the necessary credentials, a candidate applying for an “accountant” role but misspelling it as “acountant” may likely be overlooked.

Utilize tools such as spell check or ask someone else to review your CV to avoid errors.

4. Lack of keywords

As stated by BrighterMonday, a recruitment agency, incorporating relevant job-related keywords can enhance your probability of getting selected for an interview.

Technology has fundamentally transformed our lives. For instance, hiring managers employ computer programs to review resumes and choose the most suitable candidates according to specific criteria.

"If your CV doesn’t include specifickeywords, the recruiting software may automatically discard it during the selectionprocess—even if you possess all the required qualifications—meaning yourCV won't get reviewed at all," it explained.

5. Poor CV structure

A CV that lacks organization and clarity may discourage hiring managers from considering your application.

## Key Points - Utilize appropriate section titles. - Employ bullet points for better readability. - Ensure a clean and organized format. - Maintain consistency in style throughout your document.

Make sure your CV presents ideas and information in a sequential order that aligns with what you've stated in your cover letter.

6. Excessive length

Make sure your résumé is concise and direct, preferably not exceeding two pages.

A long résumé may appear intimidating and is less likely to be read completely.

How can one create an effective resume?

The competition for employment is intensifying in an economy where millions of people remain without jobs.

Nicole Mballah, a seasoned CV writer from BrighterMonday, advises individuals looking for employment to leverage their resumes to showcase their strengths and distinguish themselves among competing applicants.

"HR managers receive numerous CVs, and studies indicate they typically spend around seven seconds reviewing each resume. Therefore, your CV must be appealing, concise, and meticulously composed to capture the interest of both applicant tracking systems and the hiring manager who will review it," explained Mballah to Sport.Bangjo.co.id.co.ke.

How to craft a resume for an internship application

In related news, Sport.Bangjo.co.id.co.ke covered advice for drafting a CV for an internship application when you have no prior experience.

Provide information about your degree, related classes taken, academic honors received, and any noteworthy projects or research that align with the position you’re applying for.

Despite lacking work experience, you probably possess skills that can apply in many situations. Concentrate on developing interpersonal abilities such as communicating effectively, collaborating with others, resolving issues, and being flexible.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, a current affairs journalist and copy editor at Sport.Bangjo.co.id.co.ke.