Recruiter shares 'red flags' that put employers off your CV in 10 seconds

28 August 2023 , 16:10

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A recruiter has explained red flags employers look for (stock image) (Image: Getty Images)

As any job seeker will know, the whole process of getting a new role can be stressful from start to finish. Designing your CV to show off all of your strengths and experience, filling out an application, and eventually the interview - it’s a long, old slog.

However, one recruiter is on a mission to help everyone looking for a new position by sharing her wisdom and experience on what employers are looking for. Going by the name Recruiter Clio on TikTok, the talent scout regularly posts videos offering her insight into different areas of recruitment.

In one clip, the young woman answered a question about what red flags a potential employer can pick out from your CV. Revealing they can easily tell if you’re going to stay long-term on the job, she said: “Let me tell you a little secret, your resume is going to be the make or break. On average, your recruiter screens a resume for less than 10 seconds. The main things we need to see for us to look at it longer [are] clear job titles, the length for each of those roles, and last but not least the consistency in your career.

“If you have let's say four to five roles on there and each of them didn't last longer than a year, I'm sorry to tell you this but it's a red flag,” Clio explained that unless you’re a freelance worker or contractor, it’s not a good look if you’re applying for a fulltime position.

She added: “If you’re not getting any calls right now, it’s probably because your resume is being passed on and it’s just not attracting the hiring managers.” She ended by flagging her own skills in the job market, saying that she could help knock your CV into shape.

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But Clio’s followers had mixed feelings about her advice when they responded in the comments. One person wrote: “Thank you for sharing, I tell this to everyone and people keep saying ‘well I don’t owe it to my job’!” Another viewer wrote: “True but persistence is the key to income appreciation. if I stayed at my jobs for longer than a year then I wouldn't have doubled my salary in three years.” While someone else penned: “There are these things called temporary jobs which generally last about six months. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad employee.”

Eve Wagstaff