❌ Top 10 CV Mistakes Students Make (And How to Fix Them)

Your CV is your first impression when applying for internships or jobs—so don’t let small mistakes ruin big opportunities! Many students lose out on interviews simply because of avoidable errors on their CVs.

In this post, we reveal the 10 most common CV mistakes students and graduates make, and more importantly, how to fix them to land more interviews and internship offers.

🔟 1. Using a Complicated or Unprofessional CV Design

Mistake: Using fancy fonts, colours, images, or over-the-top designs that make your CV hard to read.

Fix: Stick to a clean and simple format. Use professional fonts like Arial or Calibri, black text on a white background, and clear headings. Your goal is to make your CV easy to scan quickly.

9️⃣ Missing Contact Information

Mistake: Forgetting to include basic contact details like your phone number or email.

Fix: Always include:

Full name
Phone number
Professional email
City & province (e.g., Cape Town, Western Cape)
LinkedIn profile (if available)

✅ Double-check that your contact details are correct and up to date.

8️⃣ Using an Unprofessional Email Address

Mistake: Using emails like baby_girl99@gmail.com or bossplayer@ymail.com

Fix: Create a free, professional-looking email using your name.

Example: sihle.mthembu@gmail.com

7️⃣ Too Long or Too Short

Mistake: Submitting a CV that’s either one paragraph or five full pages.

Fix: Keep your CV to 1–2 pages max. Focus on relevant skills, education, and experiences that match the role.

6️⃣ Poor Grammar or Spelling Errors

Mistake: Typos and bad grammar show carelessness and can cost you the opportunity.

Fix: Use a spell checker, ask someone to proofread your CV, or run it through Grammarly. Always double-check before submitting.

5️⃣ Listing Duties, Not Achievements

Mistake: Writing boring lists like “Answered phones” or “Helped with admin.”

Fix: Focus on what you achieved, not just what you did.

Instead of: “Helped customers”
Say: “Assisted over 50 customers per day, resolving queries and improving satisfaction.”

4️⃣ Using the Same CV for Every Application

Mistake: Sending one generic CV to every internship or job.

Fix: Tailor your CV slightly for each application. Highlight the skills and experiences that match the job description.

✅ Use keywords from the job post.

3️⃣ Including Irrelevant Information

Mistake: Adding hobbies, childhood achievements, or outdated school awards.

Fix: Focus on what’s relevant to the job: education, skills, internships, projects, and achievements that matter.

2️⃣ Lying or Exaggerating

Mistake: Claiming to have skills or experience you don’t really have.

Fix: Be honest. Employers can easily check your background. Rather highlight transferable skills and your willingness to learn.

1️⃣ Not Showing Your Skills Clearly

Mistake: Hiding your skills in paragraphs or not listing them at all.

Fix: Add a Skills section on your CV and include both soft skills (teamwork, communication) and technical skills (Excel, Photoshop, coding, Canva, etc.).

✅ Final Tip: Always Save as PDF

Save and send your CV as a PDF file to keep the layout intact when it’s opened on different devices.

📥 Want a Free CV Template?

👉 Download a free editable CV template for students and graduates here

📚 More CV & Internship Resources

💬 Need Help With Your CV?

Email us at info@gointern.co.za for free feedback and support from our team. Let’s help you take the next step!

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