THINKING about a new job this year? Then make sure you get the basics right before you apply.

A new study suggests that almost every other person in the country seems to have a CV with a mistake in it, and not just little white lies about their experience.

The survey of recruitment professionals found 50% of the CVs they received contained grammatical errors, with the worst offenders in the 21 to 25-year-old age group.

Men are much worse than women, with seven out of 10 recruiters surveyed saying that a CV from a man is more likely to contain errors.

Other key findings from nearly 300 companies polled revealed one of the most common and basic errors was misspelling "Curriculum Vitae".

"Typos", where letters in a word are transposed, are ironically most common among staff applying for secretarial or clerical roles.

Teachers, however, are top of the class, with the fewest errors in their CVs.

One of the most surprising findings was the admittance from 59% of recruiters that details of extra-curricular activities - other interests and hobbies are seen as a waste of space.

Marcia Roberts, chief executive at the Recruitment & Employment Confederation, said: "Candidates who make errors run the risk of missing out on being shortlisted for a job for which they may have the right experience and qualifications.

"Jobseekers should pay attention to getting the basics right.

"There are a number of steps that can be taken, for example, seeking advice and guidance from recruitment professionals or making sure your CV and covering letter has been read and reread by friends before sending.

"Some sectors experience ongoing skills shortages and it's frustrating candidates are not doing themselves any favours."

The REC suggests the following when writing a CV: •It should be no longer than two pages.

•Keep the design straightforward and simple. CVs are scanned to pick up the details an employer wants.

•Start the CV with your name and your career history. Stick to standard job titles that are more likely to be picked up in the word search scan.

•Use bullet points to highlight your achievements.

•Details such as your education history, home and email address and telephone numbers should be included at the end of the CV.

•Do not lie about your achievements - sooner or later, you will be found out.