Myth busting – not all CV advice is created equal!

With the vast amounts of free CV advice available in every corner of the internet, it’s time to investigate what’s worth listening to and what you can confidently ignore.

CV myth #1 – you should hide keywords in white text on your CV

Just… no. This is not a good idea. The theory behind this CV myth is that when recruiters search their database of CVs, your CV will pop up every time because it will be full of the search terms recruiters are using. Some maniacs even go so far as to suggest that you paste the entire job advert into your CV, in a tiny white font.

The thing is, even if a recruiter does find your CV using a keyword search, they won’t progress an application if you don’t have the right skills and experience for the role. And don’t forget - if you’re wise to this trick, so are the recruiters. I also suspect, though I have no proof for this, that once your CV is saved on a database, all text is automatically saved in black anyway and your deception will be laid bare for all to see.

Instead of going along with this nonsense, weave relevant keywords into your CV naturally and focus on writing it so that your relevant skills and experience are clearly shown throughout.

CV myth #2 – recruiters only spend 6 seconds looking at your CV

There have been various claims regarding how long recruiters spend looking at your CV, from 6 seconds upwards. Such claims should be taken with a pinch of salt – for a start, every recruiter is different and will spend a different amount of time on each CV. Secondly, the original source of this statistic is over 12 years old now – even the update of 7.4 seconds is over 5 years old. Other studies have come up with wildly different estimates, but it’s the six second claim that seems to have gained traction.

However long a recruiter spends looking at your CV, the theory here is sound – first impressions matter. It can only be to your advantage to apply with a well-presented CV, where the most important, relevant and persuasive information is easy to spot.

CV myth #3 – your CV will be rejected by an ATS

On one hand, applicant tracking systems do exist. On the other hand, they’re just a digital filing system and they’re not out to get you. You can read more about applicant tracking systems here, but the short version is: text only, use keywords, don’t panic. The businesses shouting that your CV won’t be read by a human are scaremongering to part you with your hard-earned money. They don’t have the secret to “beating the bots”, because that’s just not a thing.  

CV myth #4 – your CV must be two pages

Who says? If you don’t have enough experience to fill two pages, use one. If you can’t fit it all on two pages, use three. Two pages is a good length to aim for, but guess what? Size doesn’t matter! Obviously presenting a wordy 10-pager is pushing your luck, but if you write with the aim of concisely selling your suitability for the role you can’t go far wrong. Find out more in this blog about the perfect length for your CV.

CV myth #5 – you must include details of all your experience

Your CV is your personal sales document. You only need to include information that will sell you into a role. You can reduce or eliminate information that doesn’t support that goal. There’s no law that says what you must include and no penalty for not mentioning something irrelevant.

CV writing without the nonsense

If you’re having trouble sorting internet myth from fact, CV Shed can help you to write a CV that shows exactly why you’re the right person for the role. With services at every price point, why not see how I can help you?