5 Singlish Grammar Mistakes on Your CV That HR Managers Hate

It's hiring season. HR managers are sifting through hundreds of CVs, looking for reasons to shortlist—or reject—candidates.

In a competitive market, attention to detail is everything. Broken English or "Singlish-isms" on a CV can signal a lack of professionalism or global communication skills, even if you are highly qualified.

Here are the top 5 grammar mistakes that instantly raise red flags for recruiters.

The "Red Flag" Mistakes

1. The Missing Article

Singlish often omits articles like 'a', 'an', or 'the'.

Incorrect"Served as Project Manager for team of five."

Correct"Served as the Project Manager for a team of five."

2. The Tense Trap

Past roles should use past tense. Current roles use present tense. Don't mix them.

Incorrect (Past Role)"In charge of daily operations and manage team."

Correct"Managed daily operations and led the team."

3. Direct Singlish Phrases

Avoid colloquialisms that don't translate.

Incorrect"Stay near to office."

Correct"Located near the office" or simply omit (address is sufficient)."

4. The "Last Time" Logic

"Last time" is a common Singlish marker for "previously".

Incorrect"Last time I handle marketing also."

Correct"Previously, I also handled marketing duties."

5. Redundant Prepositions

Adding unnecessary prepositions is a tell-tale sign.

Incorrect"Discussed about the project strategy."

Correct"Discussed the project strategy."

Why You Can’t Spot Your Own Errors

When you live in Singapore, your brain auto-corrects Singlish. "Discussed about" sounds perfectly normal to your inner ear because you hear it every day.

You need an objective, external check to catch these blind spots before a recruiter does.

The Solution: Ai Grammar Buddy

Don't leave your career to chance. Use Ai Grammar Buddy to scan your resume text. It's built to recognize and fix common Singlish errors, ensuring your CV is polished, professional, and ready for an international audience.

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