3 job recruiters share major red flags in CV that will make them reject applicat…

  • An educative video of three recruiters speaking up about the red flags they watch out for in CVs has gone viral
  • In the trending clip, the three of them took turns to mention what they consider a potential pet peeve in the document
  • Social media users who came across the video did not hesitate to share their opinions about the information

CHECK OUT: Don’t let unemployment hold you back. Start your digital marketing journey today.

A video of three recruiters discussing their biggest CV turn-offs has sparked a lively discussion online.

The clip, which showed common ‘mistakes’ job applicants make, caught the attention of social media users who shared their thoughts on the issue.

Recruiters share red flags in CVsRecruiters speak on quality CVs
Photo credit: @thepeoplepracticeio/TikTok.Source: TikTok

Recruiters share hot takes about CV

Shared by @thepeoplepracticeio on TikTok, the video showed the recruiters’ candid opinions on what raises red flags when reviewing CVs.

One recruiter emphasised the importance of quantifiable achievements, expressing frustration when candidates failed to include performance indicators or measurable metrics.

In her words:

“I find it frustrating when people don’t include their performance indicators or measurable metrics in their responsibilities to show their capabilities and achievements over just vague and generic responsibilities that is just pasted in CVs.”

Another recruiter cited the submission of non-PDF applications, such as screenshots of printed or photocopied documents as his red flag. This, he argued, demonstrated a lack of attention to detail.

“When a candidate submits an application and it’s not in PDF. Maybe it’s just a screenshot of a printed or photocopied document and submits it. That’s a big red flag,” he said.

A third recruiter confessed that inconsistent font styles, sizes, and templates were a major pet peeve.

She believed this often indicated that applicants had copied from various sources, resulting in a disjointed and unpolished CV.

She said:

“For me, it’s different fonts. You see people with different fonts, different sizes, different templates. It just tells me and I may be wrong, but most of the time, I am not. It just tells me that you have copied from different sources and you are just dumping everything all in one place hoping that it makes sense. That for me is a pet peeve.”

Reactions as recruiters speak on bad CVs

The TikTok video sparked a wider conversation about CV best practices and the importance of tailoring applications to specific job openings.

Many viewers agreed with the recruiters’ concerns, while others shared their experiences of overcoming CV challenges.

@Claire said:

“I’m definitely taking what the 1st lady said into consideration.”

@Old but Gold said:

“More of this please. What makes a good cv because there’s a lot of templates and stuff out there. One might be very qualified for the role but their cv is why they never get hired.”

@Tee reacted:

“That pdf format is very important stop sending CV as PNG or JPG fgs.”

@Esther said:

“Tbh, it’s not everytime your duty comes with the opportunity to have measurable metrics in your resume, especially if you’re part of a larger team.”

@Fannyb_esta said:

“People do all the correct things and still wouldn’t get anything.”

@melanin said:

“All this one no matter just get connection.”

@pleasantspicy said:

“Na HR una be una no be God oooo.”

@Mofaratioluwa reacted:

“Are you guys recruiting abeg? I have all the green flags.”

@NKONGHO TAMBE 1st said:

“Once you have a good recommendation, even if your CV is upside down or Sideways, you’ll still be recruited. We know all that.”

@Azeez Adedamola commented:

“That first part about measurable KPIs are usually filled with lies and unverified metrics, making CVs looking like a mathematical table and confusing imo. As an HR, I prefer the generic functions.”

@_cayode said:

“Na these kind people deh ask for 10 years experience for Internship.”

@Moses said:

“Many of these people will still get rejection mail if they submit their CV to top brands. No cap!”

Watch the video below:

Man displays perfect CV format

Meanwhile, TheTalk.NG previously reported that a young man revealed how he was able to secure several job offers after taking a very serious step.

According to him, he changed his resume format to a clean and more organised one which paved the way for him.

Source: TheTalk.NG


Drama as lady shares how stepmother rejects her brother’s burial on family land
A Nigerian lady narrated the emotional drama during her brother’s burial in her father’s compound She shared how she was told to leave the corpse outside, as the stepmother rejected the burial on the property In a viral TikTok video, she blamed her late mother for marrying into a polygamous family full of conflict A ... Read more Continue reading here ▶


Son who moved out of father’s house to rent flat regrets after 2 months of “sapa”
A young man who moved out of his parents’ house to live alone is now complaining about adulthood bills In one of the videos he shared online, he told people he was yet to furnish the apartment he rented after two months The son relived how his mother’s food was always available for him when ... Read more Continue reading here ▶


Nigerian lady builds 2-bedroom flat on half plot of land in 1 year, shows off be…
A young Nigerian lady has gone viral on social media after showing off her newly completed house In a video shared on TikTok, she displayed how the building project took place from the starting point to the final look Social media users who came across the video did not hesitate to congratulate her for the ... Read more Continue reading here ▶


2025 UTME: SS2 student of Caleb British International School shows result, share…
A Nigerian girl named Oge celebrated after JAMB released her result following a rewrite of the 2025 UTME due to an error affecting 379,000 candidates Oge, a Secondary School 2 (SS2) student attending a Nigerian school that follows the British curriculum, shared what she scored in the 2025 UTME. She shared her success on TikTok, ... Read more Continue reading here ▶


“First date”: Single mum shares man’s reaction after telling him she had 6 kids
A single mother shared her experience after revealing she has six children to a man she had been talking to for about a week During their first date, the man’s mood changed when she told him about her kids, which affected the outing Many reacted as she shared what the man did next after their ... Read more Continue reading here ▶


Leave a Comment