Guide · 6 min read
10 common student CV mistakes (and how to fix them)
Most student CVs are rejected for the same handful of fixable reasons. Avoid these ten and you're already ahead of most applicants.
The mistakes recruiters see most
- Listing duties, not achievements. Fix: start with an action verb and add a result or number.
- A generic summary. Fix: name your field and what you're looking for.
- Too long. Fix: keep it to one focused page.
- Typos and inconsistency. Fix: proofread, and keep dates and tenses consistent.
- Fancy layouts that break the ATS. Fix: use a clean, single-column, ATS-friendly template.
- Burying education. Fix: as a student, lead with it.
- Vague project descriptions. Fix: say what you built, the tools, and the outcome.
- Irrelevant detail. Fix: cut anything that doesn't support the role.
- No keywords from the job post. Fix: weave in the skills the employer asks for.
- Unprofessional contact details. Fix: use a clean email and add LinkedIn/GitHub.
Frequently asked questions
What's the single biggest CV mistake?
Describing duties instead of achievements. Always show the result or skill, not just the task.
How do I know if my CV is ATS-friendly?
Use a simple single-column layout with standard headings. See our ATS-friendly CV guide.
Can Careero help me avoid these?
Yes — it enforces clean structure and rewrites duties into achievement bullets automatically. Start free.
Build a CV without the common mistakes
Careero bakes these fixes in, so you avoid them by default.
Fix my CV now