With an estimated unemployment rate of around 25% in South Africa‚ competition for every job opening is fierce. But many good candidates fail at the first hurdle in the job search process‚ by making some basic errors when compiling their CVs.

Here are the common mistakes that recruiters see in the CVs that come across their desks:

1. Irrelevant personal information

Don’t go overboard listing your hobbies‚ interests‚ or beliefs‚ unless they’re particularly relevant to the job you’re applying for. Also‚ be wary of detailing your sexual orientation‚ religious beliefs or political convictions in your CV. They’re simply not relevant.

Instead‚ you should focus your CV on the experience and qualifications that make you stand out. Avoid anything that could bias the recruiter against your application‚ be controversial in his or her mind‚ or simply pad your CV with unnecessary information.

Recruiters sometimes access social media platforms to gain insight into job applicants. Make sure that the image projected by your social media accounts is one that you’d like to portray to prospective employers.

2. Falsehoods and half-truths

Don’t claim to have qualifications you don’t have‚ don’t inflate your job titles or salary in the hopes of advancing your career‚ and don’t lie about your previous achievements.

Recruiters will check on your background‚ and they will usually find out if you’ve embellished the truth to try and get a higher salary or to secure a job for which you’re not qualified.

3. Spelling mistakes and grammatical errors

Few things get a CV thrown in the dustbin faster than glaring spelling or grammar errors. Check headings‚ subject lines and cover letters carefully.

If you’re not good at spelling and grammar‚ ask a family member or friend to proofread your CV.

4. Employment history

An unexplained gap in your work history makes recruiters nervous — Don’t let anyone imagine you spent that time in a maximum security prison.

Explain upfront if you took some time out to travel‚ suffered from an illness or were raising your children.

To help the recruiter assess your application quickly‚ start your CV with summarised career chronology. Begin with your most recently held position and provide an overview of your experience and expertise that are relevant to the job you’re applying for. For your less relevant or recent experience‚ you can offer less information.

5. Current salary or salary expectations

Don’t go there. You have little to gain from highlighting your salary expectations in a CV.

If they’re too modest‚ the employer may wonder if you’re qualified for the job‚ or you might weaken your chances of negotiating the best possible package. If they’re too high‚ your CV will be dismissed out of hand. That might be unfortunate if you’re desperate for the job or if you have a good enough story to tell to justify your cost to the company. Rather let the recruiter raise the issue of remuneration during the interview process.

If you manage to avoid these mistakes‚ you’ll already given yourself an edge in the job market‚ says Anja van Beek‚ HR director for Sage VIP and chief people officer for Sage AAMEA‚ who compiled this list.