Getting employed is one of the best feelings in the world. If that is your first one, it is cherry on top. But, the dark reality is that jobs are a scarce resource compared to the overall population, more so since the rise of AI and ML technologies. According to Glassdoor, a corporate job posting attracts approximately 250 resumes on average and only 4-6 candidates get a chance to go through interview rounds (Source: HiringThing).
The job market is ever evolving and therefore, unpredictable. It would consume precious hours and days to figure out, yet uncertainty prevails. This happens naturally to all of us, but you cannot reach anywhere unless you begin, right? Not to worry—we have got you covered.
Job hunting is a ‘process’ where your application is assessed against the job. It looks like a daunting task. And it is. The end goal is to get the job. Here are five “common mistakes to avoid” to make a noteworthy application and surpass others.
1. Renaming of CV/resume
Your CV is the first impression on your potential employer. On an average, a recruiter glances for only six seconds on a CV. You may stand out amongst the crowd, but what if, for any reason, the file name of your CV is not professional? For an instance, you cannot expect someone to open your CV with the file name “010203CV” or “alex111xyzcv” or “$@mask”. Such frivolous file names don’t create any impression in the mind of recruiter, even though you’ve high ATS score. A better way is to rename it professionally with your name and desired job role, e.g. Alex_DataAnalyst_CV or Sam_Java_Resume_2025.
2. Spellchecks
Spelling is often overlooked when creating a CV. Those tiny words can create magic in the mind of a reader when spelled correctly. If done wrong, they rarely grab anyone’s attention. You are in no mood to distract your recruiter’s attention with red underlines that appearing under your misspelled words. This is important when 85% of the recruiters use AI-powered tools to screen resumes, conduct initial interviews to speed up the hiring process. (Source: SHRM 2024).
Also, there are high chances of a CV getting filtered out by an AI system with multiple spelling errors before it even reaches human eyes. While optimizing your CV with keywords from JD is the current trend, this strategy is effective only if spellings are correct. The best practice is to use online tools like Grammarly, Quillbot, dictionaries, etc., to correct these spelling errors.
3. Grammar and Punctuation
This is the most subtle yet impactful exercise to perform when you have finalized writing for your CV. Grammar and punctuation go hand in hand to make sense of the sentences that you have written. Including keywords is good. Correcting spelling is great too. But, what if they don’t convey your idea to the recruiter? Your CV is your sales pitch for the job, make sure that it is meaningful.
4. Perusing the job description (JD)
You might have observed that JDs for the same profile look alike. But, they aren’t. Each JD has a distinctive set of requirements when it comes to hiring. There is a specific yet unique skillset asked for, a special responsibility to fulfil, and relatable experience that is necessary—all of which sets that job apart from others in the same domain. Your CV should be aligned with the requirements mentioned in the JD. Remember, there are neither perfect jobs nor perfect candidates. There is always room for improvement and training. Our aim should be to study the JD, align our profile to it, and give the best possible shot with our resume (suggesting we’re the one best suited for this job).
5. Mock interviews
“Preparation precedes performance” is a familiar quote, which reflects the importance of preparation. Mock interviews are like just that—they prepare. Mocks help you anticipate questions, improve your answers in advance, identify your weakness, and improvise before facing an actual interview. This practice builds confidence during the interview, reduces surprised reactions, owing to your preparations during mocks. Ultimately, this will impress your interviewers and demonstrate your seriousness in the opportunity.
These are some of the basic dos and don’ts while job hunting, though this is not an extensive list. We hope this helps you clear the hurdles while you hunt for the best possible jobs and advance in your career. For more tailored services, feel free to reach out to Auriic.
Best wishes. Happy Hunting!