CV Tips, Career Advice & Common Mistakes: What HR experts want you to know

Want to land your next role in the tech industry or elevate your career to new heights? We asked our People & Culture team to share their top CV tips, common mistakes to avoid, career advice and if leveraging AI will help or hinder your job prospects. Whether you're applying for your first job or planning your next career move, these insights can help you stand out.

How to make your CV stand out

Rachel Martin, People & Culture Business Partner, shares the top 3 things she looks for in a CV.

Relevance to the Job

A CV should clearly align with the role being applied for by including relevant skills, experience and qualifications that match the job description. Tailoring the content to mirror the language and priorities of the role shows intentionality and demonstrates that the candidate understands what the employer is truly looking for. Generic CVs often get flicked through, customisation is what grabs attention.

Clear Structure & Formatting

A well-structured CV makes it easy to read and helps recruiters quickly find key information. Use bullet points, avoid clutter and keep the layout visually appealing. Think clear headings, logical sections and balanced spacing. If someone must dig to find basic info like qualifications or job titles, the CV is already working against the candidate.

Achievements & Impact

Instead of just listing responsibilities, highlight measurable accomplishments. For example: "Implemented process improvements that increased efficiency and reduced costs.” Use specific examples where possible - numbers, percentages, or tangible outcomes show the value a candidate brings. Even in roles without easy metrics, describing how your work made a difference to the team, customers, or operations adds meaningful impact.

What NOT to do on your CV

Bebiana Liau, People & Culture Business Partner, highlights common mistakes and how to avoid them.

Mistake 1: Typos & Formatting Errors

Do this instead: Before submitting your resume, proofread it carefully, ask someone else to review it, or use Copilot to help spot errors. Copilot can help you proofread your CV by checking grammar, improving clarity and suggesting more impactful language. No, it's not 'cheating.' By mid-2025, Microsoft Copilot had 33 million users, with CV writing being one of the top global applications for generative AI. A well formatted, error-free resume not only looks professional but also makes it easier for recruiters to quickly find key information. First impressions count, and this is often your first one!

Mistake 2: Long or Irrelevant Content

Do this instead: Tailor your resume to the job you're applying for by focusing only on relevant experience and using job-specific keywords. Just as candidates are using AI to create CVs, AI is also making its way into the recruitment process, helping to filter candidates based on objective criteria at a high level. In 2024, 62% of Australian organisations used AI in recruitment moderately or extensively, according to the most recent Responsible AI Index. However, human involvement is still required to pick up on nuances that are subtle, intuitive and difficult for AI to pick up on. Your resume should be no more than two pages. Remove anything irrelevant such as hobbies or interests. Before including any information, ask yourself: Does this add value to my application?

Mistake 3: Missing or Vague Employment Dates

Do this instead: Always include clear and accurate start and end dates for each position you've held, typically listed as Month/Year – Month/Year (e.g., Jan 2020 – Aug 2023). Being transparent about your work timeline helps build trust and gives employers a clearer picture of your career progression. If you do have employment gaps, be honest and consider briefly explaining them in your cover letter or resume (e.g., parental leave, further education, travel, or job hunting).

So, should I use AI?

Using AI to help write your CV and cover letter can be super handy, it gets you most of the way there with structure and polish. But it’s still important to go over everything yourself, check for accuracy and make sure it sounds like you. Recruiters are getting pretty good at spotting AI-generated applications that feel generic or haven’t been properly edited - that can come off as a bit careless. So, while AI can save you time and give you a great starting point, the magic happens when you add your own voice and personality to the mix.

Career Growth Advice 

Valeria Johnson, General Manager – People & Culture, shares how to grow your career and communicate your aspirations effectively.

Navigating the ever-evolving landscape of a career in any industry, requires adaptability, continuous learning and self-awareness. Here are some essential strategies to help you advance your career in our dynamic industry.

“The traditional metaphor of climbing the career “ladder” is outdated. The career paths of today’s top talent are rarely linear and often involve sideways moves, changes in specialisation and even seemingly backwards steps before we see upward progression.

It’s important to remember that each step you take will present new information and learnings that will inform your next move. You can’t anticipate these until you get there. People often put pressure on themselves, and their managers, to map out the trajectory of their careers, only to fall into the trap of rigidly following a path that isn’t suited to them and missing better opportunities along the way. What is far more important, is cultivating the right mindset and the rest will fall into place.”

Val's Tips for Career Growth

Lead with your strengths

Understanding and leveraging your unique strengths is vital for career advancement. Use them to differentiate yourself and add value to your team and organisation. You can even ask Copilot to act as your personal development coach to help discover and articulate your strengths.

Align to your values

Develop a habit of reassessing your goals and strategies against your values regularly. You’ll be surprised how many people neglect to do this and then wonder why they feel unhappy or unfulfilled in their careers.

Keep an open mind

Embrace innovation and be willing to explore unfamiliar territories. Attend industry events, read articles and engage with thought leaders. 

Flexibility is key

Make sure you are open to change and ready to pivot when needed. Your ability to be flexible will give you an advantage over others when advancement opportunities arise.

Adopt a growth mindset

Instead of viewing challenges as setbacks, see them as opportunities to grow. Seek feedback, embrace failures as learning experiences, and continuously strive to improve. A growth mindset will propel your career forward in any industry.

Effective communication of aspirations

Make sure that you are clearly articulating your goals and ambitions to your manager. Be specific about what you aim to achieve and how you plan to contribute to the organisation's success. Copilot can help you form the basis of a conversation for this with your manager.

Advancing your career in any industry, especially the fast-changing tech industry, demands a proactive approach. By cultivating the right mindset, you'll be well placed to navigate complexities, to achieve your career aspiration and to thrive. 

Hey, while you’re here, we’re hiring! Interested in a career at Dicker Data? View our current opportunities here.