Composing a CV which shows you to your very best, employable advantage can seem like a mammoth task. So when you get it right, it can be all the more tempting to declare it a perfect specimen, never to be altered in any way. And yet, having just one, generic CV may very well be holding you back in your search of your dreams. Here are XXX reasons why we could be professionally holding you back.

You Can Totally Misjudge A Company

Some businesses are quite specific in their company culture and values. Therefore, any CV which seems particularly incongruous to the company it is targeted for will simply make a candidate poorly suited to the job. Whether you appear overly stuffy to a more casual startup, or sloppy and unprofessional at a traditional place of work, getting the tone wrong is your CV on the "no" pile.

It Can End Up Overly Reliant On Cliché

If you're trying to find a CV fit all potential job applications, the likelihood is that you'll have to miss out on some of the important specifics. Rather than tailor particular experiences to a candidate specification, it's likely you'll have more broadly on buzzwords and clichés. Not only do you do this CV impersonal, but it can also make your (very real) talents seem less real and valid.

It'll Likely Turn Out Too Long

One of the most common CV mistakes is making yours overly wordy. And this problem can be exacerbated by relying on one generic CV. If you are not sure what job you are applying for, then you will be reluctant to leave things out, just in case they are the key skills an employer is looking for. But if a CV turns out to be around three pages, it's unlikely to expect a recruiter to read through the whole thing and pick out the appropriate skills and experience. That should be down to you.

You Can not Get Up Through The Sorting Stage

In a competitive job market, sometimes employers rely on a computer program to do a first-stage "weeding out" process to remove CVs that seem totally unsuited to the position. The problem is, this is an imperfect process. By making sure your CV contains some key phrases from the job description and candidate spec, you can better safeguard your position.

Redundant Information Suggests Lack Of Attention To Detail

A CV which contains totally irrelevant experiences and skills may end up seeming like a mistake. And mistakes on a job application are a sign that you're a little bit lazy, or to go to rush things, or, at worst, are not that serious about the application. Either way, it does not come across well. 

You'll Struggle To Prove Your Skills

If an ideal candidate has some facets which are on the generic side, simply including them in your CV is unlikely to seem very impressive to a recruiter. What they'll probably be looking for is solid proof and proof that you fit the bill. The best CVs will look for skills, and then include instances of these skills being utilized within the CV. It takes a little more work than simply regurgitating information, but if it is you want it, it is worth it.

Employers Can Definitely Tell

If this is not the case, you should consider using a generic CV, consider this: Employers will always notice when you have customized it towards the job. And if they have to choose between a candidate who has spent time, what is your opinion? If you want to give yourself a fair chance, you must show employers you've made the effort.