5 Common CV Mistakes Offshore Freelancers Make (and How to Fix Them)

Your CV is often the first opportunity to demonstrate your offshore experience, technical capability and suitability for a project. 

For freelancers, a strong CV is more than a list of previous jobs, it needs to clearly show where you have worked, what you have done, the equipment you have used and the value you can bring to a project.  

Recruiters and clients often review multiple CVs when filling offshore positions, so making your experience easy to find and understand can make a significant difference.  

Here are five common CV mistakes we see offshore professionals make, and how to fix them.  

 

1. Not Providing Enough Detail in Your Project History 

Clients need to quickly understand your technical experience and how it relates to the role they are looking to fill. Your project history should clearly show the scope of the work, your responsibilities and the software, hardware and systems you used. Without this detail, valuable experience may be overlooked. 

How to fix it: 

• Clearly outline your scope of work and responsibilities for each project
• Include the relevant software, hardware and technical experience for each project
• List equipment under the individual project where you gained that experience, rather than relying on a separate equipment list
• Highlight the experience, equipment and software most relevant to the role you’re applying for. 
• Only list systems and equipment you are genuinely competent using
• Use bullet points to keep your experience clear and easy to scan

By role: 

For example, Surveyors: clearly state the scope of work within your project history. If you have experience in areas such as monopile installation or trenching, make sure this is clearly stated under the relevant project.

 

Example Format: 
 
Dates Worked: July 2026 – August 2026 
 
Job Title: Online Surveyor 
 
Client: Hydro Limited 
 
Vessel: Mont Point 
 
Scope of Work: Pipe Lay 
 
Location: UK – North Sea 
 
Responsibilities: Managed, Supported X, Y, Z 
 
Software: EIVA 
 
Hardware: Sonardyne, Sprint INS, USBL

 

2. Work History Not in Chronological Order 

A common mistake is having projects listed out of order, making it difficult for clients to understand your recent experience.

How to fix it: 

List your most recent project first and work backwards.  

Update your CV after every trip. Keeping your project history current means you are ready when the next opportunity arises. 

 

3. Missing or Hiding Certifications & Documents

  A common mistake is burying key information deep within a CV or failing to include relevant documents altogether. 

How to fix it:

Include a clear section titled Documents/Certificates: 

In this section, include relevant, valid certifications such as: 

Survival Certificates:  

• BOSIET / FOET with CA-EBS / MIST / H2S  

• GWO modules (for renewable projects)  

  

Medical Certificates:  

• OEUK Medical  

• STCW Seafarers Medical (e.g. UK ENG1or Norwegian Medical etc) 

  

Other Documents:  

• Passport nationality  

• Seaman’s Book  

• Relevant visas (e.g. Schengen, USA)  

• Role-specific certifications  

  

Only include documents that are current and valid.  

 

4. Not Including Your Location

Including your location and where you are based is particularly important when going offshore as it helps recruiters and clients assess mobilisation feasibility early.  

How to fix it:  

Include:  

• Current country of residence  

• Current address/location  

This helps assess whether you can realistically mobilise for a project within the required timeframe.  

  

5. Spelling Mistakes 

This may seem like a small detail, but spelling mistakes can impact how your CV is perceived.  

When presenting you to clients, accuracy and attention to detail matter -particularly in technical industries where equipment names, software and certifications need to be correct.  

How to fix it:  

Always double-check:  

• Software names   

• Hardware names   

• Certification titles   

• Client and company names   

A simple proofread before submitting your CV can make a big difference