Eight mistakes people often make looking for work in the UK: personal details on a CV, fake ads, agencies that charge fees, written terms and the minimum wage
Published: Last checked: October 20263 min read
Short answer
Points that cause problems according to official pages: putting age, marital status and nationality on a CV, fake job ads, agencies charging fees to find work, not getting written terms, working below the minimum wage (£12.71 for 21+) and not knowing Acas's free helpline.
In short
- This post is general information and does not assess anyone's personal situation. It makes no statistical claim about "the most common" mistakes: it collects the points that, according to official pages, cause problems when missed. It is based on official pages as they were on 18 October 2026 and covers England.
- Each point rests on a GOV.UK or National Careers Service page.
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Official sources
This answer is based on the pages below. Check the source yourself before you decide.
- National Careers Service: CV sections
- GOV.UK: Employment agencies and businesses, job seekers
- GOV.UK: Overseas workers conned out of thousands by fake care recruiter
- GOV.UK: Written statement of employment particulars
- GOV.UK: National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates
- GOV.UK: Pay and work rights helpline (Acas)
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