Watch out for these they are the fastest way to land in the “no” pile:

1. Spelling and grammar errors  always proofread, or ask someone else to check
2. Unprofessional email address (e.g., coolboy2010@…)  use a firstname.lastname@gmail.com style instead
3. No phone number, or an unreachable one
4. Generic CVs sent to every job:  always tailor your CV to the specific role
5. Irrelevant personal details : Zambian CVs have traditionally sometimes included marital status or religion, but modern best practice is to leave these out unless specifically requested
6. Poor photo choices : if including a photo (a common practice in Zambia), use a clear, professional headshot, not a selfie or party photo
7. Lying or exaggerating : this is easily exposed at interview stage and destroys trust instantly
8. Poor formatting : inconsistent fonts, no white space, walls of text with no structure