Resume 101: 10 Dos and Don'ts When Creating Your CV
Hiring managers skim CVs in seconds. These practical dos and don'ts help you pass ATS filters, look professional, and land more interviews — even if you start from a blank page.
By EazyCV Team
Your resume is not a biography — it is a marketing document with one job: convince a recruiter to talk to you. Most CVs are reviewed in under ten seconds the first time. That means clarity beats cleverness, and structure beats decoration.
Whether you are writing your first CV or refreshing one after years in the workforce, these ten dos and don'ts will help you avoid the mistakes we see again and again (and yes, we built EazyCV so you can apply them in minutes).
The 5 dos: what strong candidates always get right
1. Lead with impact, not job descriptions
Replace vague duties with outcomes. Instead of "Responsible for social media," write "Grew Instagram engagement 42% in 6 months by testing short-form video." Numbers, scope, and results make you memorable.
2. Tailor the top third of page one
Recruiters may never scroll. Put your strongest summary, skills, and most relevant role where the eye lands first. Mirror keywords from the job posting — naturally, not stuffed — so ATS and humans both see a fit.
3. Use a clean, ATS-friendly layout
Stick to clear headings (Experience, Education, Skills), standard fonts, and logical order. Fancy columns and graphics often break applicant tracking systems. A polished template beats a creative mess every time for corporate roles.
4. Keep it ruthlessly concise
One page is ideal early-career; two pages max for most experienced professionals. Cut outdated roles, irrelevant hobbies, and paragraphs where bullets will do. White space is not wasted space — it guides the eye.
5. Proofread like your offer depends on it
Typos signal carelessness. Read aloud, run spell-check, then ask a friend. Check dates, company names, and email. A single wrong digit in a phone number has cost people interviews.
The 5 don'ts: what gets CVs skipped
6. Don't use one generic CV for every application
Mass-applying with the same file feels efficient but converts poorly. You do not need a full rewrite each time — adjust summary, reorder bullets, and emphasize the skills each employer cares about.
7. Don't include personal data recruiters cannot use
Skip photos (unless required in your country), age, marital status, full home address, and unrelated interests like "watching Netflix." Focus on professional contact: name, email, phone, city, LinkedIn or portfolio if relevant.
8. Don't bury gaps without context
Career breaks happen. A short honest line ("2023 — family care / professional development") beats a suspicious timeline. You do not owe your life story — just remove the mystery.
9. Don't lie or exaggerate
Embellished titles and inflated skills unravel in interviews and reference checks. Frame real experience confidently; do not invent degrees or tools you cannot discuss fluently.
10. Don't treat design as a substitute for substance
Neon borders and icon grids cannot hide weak experience. Design should support readability. If you spend an hour picking fonts but zero minutes quantifying achievements, your priorities are upside down.
Quick checklist before you hit send
- Summary is specific and role-aligned (3–4 lines max).
- Each bullet starts with a strong verb and shows impact where possible.
- File name is professional: FirstName-LastName-Resume.pdf.
- Links work (portfolio, LinkedIn, GitHub).
- Formatting is consistent: dates, dashes, capitalization.
“The best resume is not the most decorated — it is the easiest to understand in one skim.”
— EazyCV
Ready to put this into practice? Open the EazyCV editor, pick a template, and draft your CV with live preview. You can start without an account, refine as you go, and download a print-ready PDF when you are happy with the result. Good luck — your next role is worth a great first impression.