Why Your Perfect CV Might Be Working Against You
Over-polished CVs can seem inauthentic. Senior recruiters share what actually catches their attention and what makes them skeptical of seemingly perfect candidates.
Sarah Müller
Partner, Executive Search
After reviewing thousands of executive CVs, patterns emerge. The most effective CVs often break conventional "rules" while the perfectly polished ones can raise suspicion.
What Actually Works:
1. Specific Numbers Over Vague Claims "Increased revenue by 34% over 18 months" beats "Significant revenue growth." Specificity signals honesty.
2. Showing Career Logic The best CVs tell a coherent story. Each move should make sense. Random jumps without explanation concern us.
3. Honest About Challenges "Led turnaround after compliance failure" is more credible than pretending every role was a triumph.
4. Readable Length For executives: 2-3 pages is fine. One page is suspicious—what are you hiding? Seven pages shows poor judgment.
Red Flags We Look For:
- Buzzwords without substance ("synergy," "leverage," "best-in-class")
- Gaps without explanation
- Title inflation (comparing company sizes reveals this)
- Taking credit for team achievements (we verify in interviews)
- Over-design that distracts from content
The LinkedIn Factor: Your CV and LinkedIn must align. Discrepancies are easy to spot and immediately raise questions about integrity.
Our Advice: Be authentic. We interview for fit, not perfection. The candidate who honestly discusses a failure and what they learned is more compelling than one who claims an unblemished record.
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