When it comes to the healthcare sector, your CV is far more than a brief list of past jobs, it’s the very first impression you make. Whether you’re applying for a role in the NHS or the private sector, employers expect clarity, accuracy, and professionalism from the outset.
Unlike other industries, healthcare places a high value on attention to detail and the ability to communicate clearly under pressure. Your CV should reflect those same standards.
In this guide, we’ll walk through ten of the most common CV mistakes we see in the healthcare space, along with some practical tips to help you avoid them. Whether you’re an aspiring nurse, doctor, healthcare assistant, or midwife, these insights are based on real-world recruitment experience.
Mistake #1: Spelling, Grammar, and Formatting Errors
Whether you’ll be administering medication or updating patient notes, accuracy is non-negotiable. Your CV gives you a perfect opportunity to demonstrate your accuracy in spelling and grammar.
Spelling mistakes, inconsistent grammar, or messy formatting can quickly undermine your application. It suggests a lack of attention to detail, which is a red flag in any clinical role.
Our team has seen CVs with different font sizes on the same page, misplaced bullet points, and even the wrong job titles copied over from previous applications. These small errors can leave a big impression – and not a good one.
Tip: Use spellcheck, but don’t rely on it alone. Proofread your CV slowly, line by line, and ask someone else to take a look too. Keep your formatting clean and consistent throughout. If it’s hard to read at a glance, it’s likely to be skipped.
Mistake #2: Using an Unprofessional Email Address
It might seem like a small detail, but your email address sets the tone before a recruiter even opens your CV. In healthcare, where professionalism is expected at every level, something as simple as an unpolished email can raise eyebrows.
An address that worked when you were a student or one that’s shared with family, might not reflect the level of professionalism expected in clinical environments.
Tip: Create a dedicated, professional email for job applications. Ideally, it should include your name (e.g. firstname.lastname@domain.com). It shows you take your career seriously and helps avoid any avoidable first impressions.
Mistake #3: Overloading with Irrelevant Experience
It’s tempting to include every job you’ve ever had, especially if you’re trying to show a steady work history. But in healthcare, relevance carries far more weight than volume. A CV overloaded with unrelated roles (like weekend retail jobs from ten years ago) can make it harder for the reader to spot the experience that actually matters.
Recruiters are scanning quickly for clinical qualifications, relevant settings, and transferable skills. If they have to sift through unrelated roles to find those details, they may miss them entirely and move straight on to the next CV.
This is especially important if you’re applying for a specialised role, such as in mental health, paediatrics, or ICU. A hiring manager wants to see evidence that you’ve worked in a similar environment, not a long list of jobs that don’t link back to the role.
Tip: Focus on healthcare-specific roles, placements, or voluntary work. If you’ve worked in other sectors, only include them if the skills transfer well such as communication, leadership, or managing pressure. Use short summaries and keep the spotlight on experience that shows you’re ready for the role you’re applying for.
Mistake #4: Failing to Tailor Your CV to the Role
A generic CV is easy to spot – and just as easy to dismiss. In healthcare, where each role can vary in responsibilities, pace, and required qualifications, sending the same CV for every application suggests either a lack of interest or a lack of clarity about what the role involves.
For example, a CV written for a ward-based nursing role won’t necessarily reflect what’s needed in a community setting or a mental health team. The same goes for allied health professionals applying across different services or care models. If your CV doesn’t speak to the specifics of the job, it’s unlikely to stand out.
Recruiters and hiring managers want to see that you understand the role and have the experience (or potential) to step into it confidently. That’s hard to show with vague job descriptions or generic phrases like “responsible for patient care”.
For further reading, take a look at our guide on how to tailor your CV for a specific healthcare role.
Tip: Always read the job description carefully and reflect its language in your CV. Highlight responsibilities and achievements that align directly with the role you’re applying for. It shows you’ve taken the time and that you understand what’s expected. Tailoring your CV doesn’t take long but it makes a big difference.
Mistake #5: Vague Descriptions Instead of Measurable Achievements
A common mistake on healthcare CVs is listing duties without showing impact. Phrases like “provided care to patients” or “worked as part of a team” are too broad to give a clear picture of what you actually did or how well you did it.
Recruiters already know the basic responsibilities of a nurse, HCA, or physiotherapist. What they’re looking for is evidence of how you performed in the role. Did you manage a high patient caseload? Were you part of a service improvement initiative? Did you support junior staff or help implement a new system?
The more specific you are, the easier it is for an employer to understand your capabilities.
Tip: Use numbers, outcomes, or real examples where possible. For instance, “Managed care for 15 patients per shift in a high-dependency unit” gives a much clearer sense of responsibility and setting than a vague one-liner. Don’t overthink it, just show the difference you made.
Mistake #6: Ignoring Employment Gaps
Employment gaps are common, especially in healthcare, where people may take time out for family, further study or health reasons. The issue isn’t the gap itself, but leaving it unaddressed.
When recruiters come across a long period with no explanation, they’re left to make assumptions. Even if the rest of your experience is strong, gaps with no context can raise doubts or cause your CV to be passed over.
There’s no need to go into personal detail. A short, clear note is enough to provide reassurance and show you’re being upfront.
Tip: If you’ve taken time away from work, include a simple explanation such as “Career break for parental leave (June 2021 to March 2022)” or “Travelled internationally (2019)”. If you kept up any training or voluntary work during that time, include it. It shows you’re proactive and still connected to the field.
Mistake #7: Poor Layout and Structure
A well-structured CV is just as important as the content itself. In a busy healthcare recruitment setting, your CV needs to be easy to scan and simple to follow. If the layout is cluttered or overly complicated, important details can get lost and with it, your chances of being shortlisted.
We’ve seen CVs with long blocks of text, inconsistent margins, and headings that blend into the content. These kinds of formatting issues make it harder for a hiring manager to quickly pick out your qualifications, experience and key skills.
Presentation matters. A clean layout helps your information stand out and makes it easier for the reader to focus on what you bring to the role.
Tip: Use clear section headings, bullet points for responsibilities and achievements, and leave enough white space so the CV doesn’t feel cramped. Stick to a standard font and size, and avoid overusing bold or italics. Keep it simple, professional and consistent throughout.
Mistake #8: Not Including CPD or Relevant Training
Continuing professional development (CPD) is a key part of working in healthcare. Whether you’re a nurse revalidating your registration or a healthcare assistant learning new skills, ongoing training shows that you’re committed to maintaining safe and effective practice.
Leaving this out of your CV can give the impression that you’re not staying up to date, which can be a concern for employers. It’s not just about ticking boxes, CPD demonstrates that you’re actively engaged in your role and aware of current standards and best practices.
Even short courses or in-house training sessions can help strengthen your application, particularly if they relate directly to the role you’re applying for.
Tip: Include a short section for CPD or relevant training. List any recent courses, certifications, or updates (especially those linked to clinical skills), patient safety or professional standards. If you’re revalidating with the NMC, mention that too. It shows you’re keeping pace with the demands of the role.
Mistake #9: Leaving Out Soft Skills or Team Contribution
Healthcare is rarely a solo effort. Whether you’re on a ward, in a clinic or out in the community, your ability to communicate, support others and work as part of a team is just as important as your clinical knowledge.
Some CVs focus so heavily on tasks and qualifications that they overlook the human side of the job. Employers want to know how you interact with colleagues, support patients and handle the pressures of a team environment. Leaving this out can make your CV feel flat or one-dimensional.
Soft skills aren’t about fluff, they’re essential in a setting where trust, empathy and communication make a real difference.
Tip: Use a few short examples to show how you’ve contributed to team efforts or supported patients. Mention things like mentoring new staff, liaising with families or working closely with multidisciplinary teams. These details help employers picture how you’d fit into their team.
Mistake #10: Writing a Generic Personal Statement
Your personal statement is the first thing most employers will read, so it needs to do more than tick a box. Unfortunately, many start with the same tired lines – “hardworking,” “team player,” “good communication skills.” These phrases are so overused they lose all meaning.
A generic statement doesn’t tell the reader anything about you, your background, or what you’re aiming for. In a competitive field like healthcare, that’s a missed opportunity.
A strong personal statement should briefly highlight your key experience, the type of role you’re looking for, and what you bring to it. It sets the tone for the rest of your CV and gives your application a sense of direction.
Tip: Focus on what you’re applying for, where you’ve worked, and what your strengths are in that context. Keep it short, four or five lines is enough, and make sure it reflects the job you want, not just the one you’ve had. A clear, specific statement stands out more than a string of buzzwords.
Your CV is often the first chance you get to show that you’re ready for a role in healthcare and small mistakes can make a big difference. Whether it’s a formatting issue, a vague personal statement or simply forgetting to include your CPD, each one risks pulling attention away from the skills and experience that actually matter.
Getting it right doesn’t mean overcomplicating things. Keep it clear, focused, and tailored to the job in front of you. That alone will put you ahead of a lot of other candidates.
If you’re applying for your next role and want to make sure your CV hits the mark, this list is a solid place to start. Take your time, check the details, and don’t be afraid to ask someone you trust to give it a second look. It’s worth it.
