The CV mistakes costing candidates their dream jobs

Technology talent is in high-demand in Canada, with Toronto being hailed as the new Silicon Valley.

Bearing that in mind, candidates looking to land the best possible roles in the new digital sector need to be mindful of what they put on their CV.

A recent report from Robert Half uncovered what chief information officers consider to be the ultimate deal breakers on jobseekers’ resumes.

After interviewing over 270 CIOs in Canada, tech executives said one of the biggest red flags on CVs was frequent job hopping, followed by providing too much unnecessary information.

The top seven most hated CV blunders were found to be;

1. Frequent job hopping for a non-consultant candidate - 43%
2. Too long or too much unnecessary information - 19%
3. No context around prior experience - 18%
4. Not highlighting strategic thinking and business knowledge - 8%
5. Overly complicated - 5%
6. Bad formatting, sloppiness or typos - 4%
7. Overuse of technical jargon - 4%

“To get the attention of potential employers, technology candidates must be able to demonstrate how their unique expertise will provide value to the business from day-one,” added Deborah Bottineau, a district director for Robert Half Technology.

“By customizing resumes to highlight specific skills related to the open position and preparing to discuss tangible professional contributions and experiences in the interview, candidates will stand out for their competence and enthusiasm for the role.”

And CVs aren’t the only pitfall candidates need to watch out for – in an interview situation, jobseekers have the propensity to land themselves in hot water.

The top six interview mistakes made by tech candidates were found to be;

1. Speaking negatively about past employers or managers - 27%
2. Poor body language, such as no eye contact or a weak handshake - 23%
3. Ineffective explanation of career history - 21%
4. No clear understanding of the business - 12%
5. Unprepared for technical questions - 12%
6. Unprofessional dress - 4%

Speaking of tech talent, don’t forget to book your place at HRD Canada’s HR Tech Summit in Toronto, June 26th & 27th.

Check out our fantastic agenda and speaker line-up here.