Let me guess. You’ve spent hours crafting your CV, tweaking your experience, polishing your bullet points, and even Googled ‘best CV templates’ more times than you care to admit. You’ve sent out dozens (maybe even hundreds) of applications—yet the phone never rings, and your inbox stays quiet. Sound familiar?

Don’t worry, you’re not alone. I speak to people across the UK every week who are in the same boat. The good news? It’s fixable.

Now, let me show you exactly why your CV might be holding you back—and more importantly, what you can do to finally start landing interviews.

1. You’re Using a Generic CV for Every Application

This one’s a biggie. Too many job seekers send out the same CV to every employer, thinking one size fits all. But here’s the truth: hiring managers can smell a generic CV a mile off.

Think about it. If you’re applying to work at Tesco in a retail assistant role, that CV should highlight your customer service skills, ability to work in a fast-paced environment, and experience handling tills. Now compare that to applying for an admin role in a local council office—completely different focus, right?

Fix it: Tailor your CV for each job. Read the job description carefully and match your experience and skills to what they’re asking for. Tools like Jobscan can help you compare your CV to job descriptions.

2. It’s All Duties, No Achievements

If your CV reads like a to-do list from your last job, that’s a red flag. Employers don’t just want to know what you did—they want to know how well you did it.

Let me give you an example. Instead of saying:

“Responsible for managing social media accounts.”

Say:

“Grew Instagram following by 40% in 6 months, increasing customer engagement by 25%.”

See the difference? One is vague. The other shows results.

Fix it: Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to describe your achievements.

3. It’s Not UK-Style

Here in the UK, CV expectations differ from other countries. Including a photo? Not necessary. Listing your age, marital status or full address? Outdated.

And let’s not even start on over-the-top designs that look like an Instagram profile.

Fix it: Stick to a clean, professional layout. Include your name, phone number, email, a short personal profile, your experience, education, and key skills. That’s it. You can check the Elevatepath Careers for a solid UK CV template.

4. It’s Got Typos or Formatting Issues

It might sound minor, but trust me—spelling errors, inconsistent fonts, or dodgy bullet points can get your CV binned instantly. Employers think, “If they can’t get this right, what else might they get wrong?”

Fix it: Always proofread. Better still, ask a friend to read it out loud to catch anything you missed. Or use tools like Grammarly or Hemingway App.

5. Your Personal Profile is Fluff

You know that bit at the top of your CV? The personal profile? That’s prime real estate. And yet, too many people waste it with vague buzzwords like:

“Hardworking, dynamic team player with a proven track record of success.”

Sounds fancy, but says nothing.

Fix it: Make it specific. Try:

“Experienced retail assistant with 3+ years in fast-paced environments like Primark and Iceland. Skilled in managing tills, dealing with customer queries, and working flexible shifts. Now seeking a role in a customer-focused team.”

6. You’re Not Showing the Right Skills

Let me tell you something important: employers scan for keywords related to the role. If you don’t include the right ones, your CV might not even make it past the first digital gatekeeper (yes, that’s a thing—they’re called ATS, or applicant tracking systems).

Fix it: Read the job ad and pick out key skills. Make sure they appear naturally in your CV—especially in the skills section and job descriptions.

For example, if you’re applying for a care assistant role, keywords might include: safeguarding, manual handling, personal care, or DBS-checked.

7. It’s Too Long (or Too Short)

In the UK, most CVs should be no more than two A4 pages. Any longer, and you risk losing the reader.

That said, a half-page CV makes it look like you don’t have enough to offer.

Fix it: Stick to two pages max. Include only relevant experience, and summarise older roles.

8. You’ve Left Unexplained Gaps

It’s completely fine to have gaps in your employment. Life happens—illness, travel, childcare, redundancy. But if you don’t explain them, employers start to make up their own (usually negative) assumptions.

Fix it: Add a short note. Something like:

June 2023–Jan 2024: Took time off to care for a family member while continuing personal development through online courses.

9. You Don’t Sound Confident

Now, I’m not saying you should come across as arrogant. But if your CV is full of soft, uncertain language (“helped with”, “assisted in”, “some experience in”), you might be underselling yourself.

Fix it: Use strong action verbs like “managed”, “delivered”, “led”, “created”, “improved”. Show that you owned your role.

10. You’re Not Asking for Help

Sometimes, you’re just too close to your own CV to see the gaps. That’s where professional guidance makes all the difference.

At ElevatePath Career, we help people across the UK build confident, compelling CVs that stand out to employers. Whether you’re a recent graduate, career returner, or looking to switch industries, our career mentors can help you position yourself like a pro.

Have a look at our coaching options and get started today: ElevatePath Career Coaching

Final Thoughts

Here’s the truth: your CV is your first impression. It’s your handshake before the interview, your elevator pitch in paper form. If it doesn’t represent the best version of you, then it’s time for a change.

The UK job market can be tough, but with a targeted, confident, and well-written CV, you can rise above the crowd.

So next time you’re about to send off that application, stop and ask yourself:

Is this CV tailored to the job?

Does it show what I actually achieved?

Would I want to interview me based on this?

If the answer’s no… you know what to do

We offer CV reviews, interview prep, and full career coaching packages for job seekers at every stage. Visit the National Careers Service or chat with our team for a free first consultation.

You’ve got this. And we’ve got your back.