5 Common CV Mistakes That Get Your Application Rejected Immediately.

You applied for 50 jobs this month, but you didn't get a single interview. Is the job market broken? Maybe. But more likely, your CV is broken.

Recruiters in East Africa spend an average of 7 seconds looking at a resume before deciding to keep it or delete it. If they spot one of these 5 common mistakes, your application is rejected immediately—no matter how talented you are.

Here are the 5 things you must fix today.

Table of Contents 1. The "Unprofessional Email" Trap 2. Spelling Errors & Typos 3. Listing Duties Instead of Achievements 4. Using a Photo (When You Shouldn't) 5. The "Wall of Text" Layout

1. The "Unprofessional Email" Trap

This is the fastest way to look immature. If your email address is coolboy_somalia99@gmail.com or queen_of_hearts@hotmail.com, no serious company will hire you.

The Fix: Create a new, free Gmail account using just your name.

• ❌ Bad: abdi.legend123@gmail.com
• ✅ Good: abdi.ali.work@gmail.com

2. Spelling Errors & Typos

If you claim to have "Attention to Detail" but your CV says "Mananger" instead of "Manager," you have failed the first test.

💡 Pro Tip: Use Tools Don't rely on your eyes. Use free tools like Grammarly or ask a friend to proofread your document before you send it. One mistake can ruin your chances.

3. Listing Duties Instead of Achievements

Most beginners write a list of what they did. Recruiters want to know what you achieved.

Don't write: "Responsible for sales."

Do write: "Increased monthly sales by 20% by implementing a new customer tracking system."

Use numbers ($ % #) wherever possible. Numbers catch the eye.

4. Using a Photo (When You Shouldn't)

In the UK, USA, and Canada, adding a photo to your CV is a mistake due to anti-discrimination laws. However, in East Africa (Somalia, Kenya), photos are sometimes accepted.

⚠️ Warning: If you include a photo, it must be professional. No selfies, no sunglasses, and no cropped photos from weddings. If you don't have a professional headshot, it is better to leave it out completely.

5. The "Wall of Text" Layout

Recruiters are busy. If your CV is just long paragraphs of text with no bullet points, they won't read it. It looks exhausting.

The Fix: Use white space. Use bullet points. Keep your CV to 2 pages maximum. Make it "skimmable."

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