Reader Lucy from Cambridge is frustrated: she has rewritten her CV multiple times, tweaking wording and layout, and her friends say it looks great, but employers rarely respond. She wonders if the problem is her age, the jobs she applies for, or something else entirely.
CV Rewrites May Not Be the Answer
Jobs Guru James Innes notes that many job seekers fixate on the CV because it is the one element they fully control. However, if multiple rewrites yield no improvement, it is time to look at other factors.
Innes advises asking tough questions: Are you applying at the right level? Are you using the same CV for different roles? Are you targeting jobs where your background doesn't clearly match? Friends, while well-meaning, often lack a recruiter's perspective—they see the CV with prior knowledge of you, unlike a hiring manager who sees only the page.
Friends Are Not Reliable CV Judges
Innes explains that a recruiter typically spends only a few seconds scanning a CV before deciding whether to proceed. This is very different from how a friend reads it. A friend's reassurance that it "looks great" may be comforting but not useful for improving your chances.
Instead, Innes recommends pressure-testing your entire job search approach: check if you are targeting the wrong roles, the wrong level, or positions where your experience is a poor fit. Stop blaming the CV alone and consider these broader issues.
For more guidance, James Innes is a best-selling careers author and founder of a leading professional CV and resume writing group. His latest book, The Job You’ve Always Wanted, is available from Pearson at £16.99.
