CV spelling errors 'top employer gripe'

Candidates applying for sales jobs have been warned that their CV may be thrown straight in the bin if it contains spelling errors.

A survey of employers by Select Appointments discovered that basic spelling mistakes were the top pet hate, with 54 per cent of respondents naming this as an irritant, reports Online Recruitment magazine.

Other problems were poor CV layouts - cited by 17 per cent as a key gripe - and overly lengthy resumes, which turned off 16 per cent of those polled.

Jargon lovers hoping to win a sales job by demonstrating their knowledge of insider lingo may be cheered by the fact that just ten per cent of employers were deterred by this approach.

Nicola Severn, a spokesperson for Select, said that many people are not as good as spelling as they think.

"A CV should be seen as a chance to shine. It is a direct reflection of the applicant and if the CV is considered inaccurate or badly organised, there is a danger the applicant will be too," she said.

A recent article in Online Recruitment cited an iProfile.org poll that highlighted the need to state evidence of concrete achievements on CVs.

For CV hints and interview advice together with one of the largest information portals available to UK sales jobseekers visit www.aaronwallis.co.uk

Filed: 21-07-2008