It's frustrating. You put hours into an application, but the result is zero. Where does it go wrong? Often, it's small details that make a big difference.
1. Spelling errors and sloppiness
It sounds obvious, but 59% of recruiters reject a candidate immediately upon seeing spelling errors. It signals a lack of attention to detail. Always have someone else read your CV.
2. An unprofessional email address
'Partyboy1995@hotmail.com' was fun when you were 16, but not when applying for a management position. Use firstname.lastname@gmail.com or something similar.
3. Gaps in your CV without explanation
A gap in your CV isn't a disaster, but an unexplained gap raises questions. Were you traveling? Caring for a family member? Studying? Mention it. Recruiters often fill the silence negatively.
4. Too generic
A CV sent to 50 companies gets rejected by 50 companies. If you don't take the effort to tailor your CV to the specific role, the recruiter won't take the effort to invite you.