5 Common CV Mistakes for Creative Professionals (and How to Fix Them)

As a creative professional, your CV needs to do more than just list your experience – it needs to hint at your unique style and vision. But striking that balance between showcasing creativity and maintaining professional clarity can be tricky! Too often, talented creatives make simple mistakes that hold their applications back.

Don’t let common errors dim your shine. Let’s look at 5 frequent CV mistakes creative professionals make and how you can easily fix them, maybe even with a little help from us here at ThePerfectCV.

1. The Design is Uninspired (or Overdone)

The Mistake: You either use a bland, generic template that doesn’t reflect your creative field, or you go overboard with complex graphics and layouts that confuse Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and human readers alike.

The Fix: Aim for a clean, modern, and readable design that subtly reflects your personal brand. Think elegant typography, strategic use of white space, and perhaps a touch of colour. Your creativity should enhance readability, not hinder it.

• ThePerfectCV Tip: Our CV templates are designed by experts to be both visually appealing and ATS-friendly. You can customize colours and fonts to add your personal touch while ensuring recruiters can easily find the information they need.

2. Your Portfolio is Buried or Missing

The Mistake: Forgetting to include a link to your online portfolio or hiding it somewhere obscure in the CV.

The Fix: Your portfolio is crucial! Make the link prominent and clickable. Include it in your contact information section right at the top of your CV. You might also reference specific portfolio pieces within your project descriptions where relevant.

3. Project Descriptions are Vague Lists of Duties

The Mistake: Simply listing what you were supposed to do (e.g., “Responsible for graphic design”) instead of highlighting what you achieved.

The Fix: Focus on impact and results. Use action verbs and quantify your accomplishments whenever possible. Instead of “Created social media graphics,” try “Designed engaging social media graphics for [Campaign Name], resulting in a 15% increase in click-through rates.” Think about the outcome of your creative work.

• ThePerfectCV Tip: Struggling to phrase your achievements? Our AI-powered CV writer can suggest impactful bullet points based on your input, helping you showcase your value effectively.

4. Ignoring Keywords

The Mistake: Thinking that because you’re in a creative field, keywords don’t matter. Many creative companies still use ATS to filter applications.

The Fix: Carefully read the job description. Identify key skills, software (Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, specific coding languages), techniques (illustration, UX/UI design, video editing), and industry terms. Weave these keywords naturally into your Skills section and Experience descriptions. Don’t stuff them, but make sure relevant terms are present.

5. Typos and Grammatical Errors

The Mistake: Letting small errors slip through. In a field where attention to detail is paramount, typos can be particularly damaging.

The Fix: Proofread. Then proofread again. Read it backwards. Ask a friend with a keen eye to review it. Use spell-check and grammar tools, but don’t rely on them solely – they can miss context.

• ThePerfectCV Tip: Our CV builder includes integrated spell-checking to catch those pesky errors before you hit send, giving you an extra layer of confidence.

Make Your Creative CV Shine

Avoiding these common mistakes can significantly improve your chances of landing that dream creative role. Your CV is your first impression – make it a polished, professional, and compelling showcase of your unique talents.

Ready to build a CV that avoids these pitfalls? Try creating your standout creative CV with ThePerfectCV today!