Your resume has one job: to get you the interview.
Yet, too often, qualified professionals sabotage their chances, not because they lack skills or experience, but because their resume is riddled with avoidable mistakes.
In a world where every job opening attracts hundreds of applicants and recruiters spend just six to seven seconds scanning each resume, even a small error can be a deal-breaker. Let’s explore six of the most common resume mistakes—and how to fix them today.
1. Being Generic Instead of Targeted
The Mistake: Using the same resume for every job application.
The Fix: Customize your resume to mirror the language and priorities of the specific job description. Tailor your headline, summary, and key accomplishments to match the role you’re applying for.
Why It Matters: Recruiters are scanning for relevance. If they don’t immediately see alignment, you’re overlooked.
Pro Tip: Keep a master resume with all your experience, and then customize a tailored version for each application.
2. Focusing on Responsibilities, Not Results
The Mistake: Listing job duties instead of highlighting achievements.
The Fix: Shift from “what you did” to “what you accomplished.” Use strong verbs and quantify results wherever possible.
Instead of:
“Responsible for sales team management.”
Try:
“Led a sales team of 10 to exceed Q3 targets by 27%, generating $3.5M in new business.”
Why It Matters: Employers want proof that you can deliver results. Numbers tell a story that titles alone can’t.
3. Poor Formatting and Layout
The Mistake: Dense text, inconsistent fonts, and lack of whitespace.
The Fix: Use a clean, minimalist format optimized for both human eyes and applicant tracking systems (ATS). Stick to standard fonts, balanced spacing, and proper section headings (e.g., “Experience”, “Skills”, “Education”).
Why It Matters: If it’s hard to read or visually overwhelming, your resume may get passed over, regardless of content.
Use PDF format unless otherwise requested to preserve formatting across devices.
4. Overusing Buzzwords and Jargon
The Mistake: Filling your resume with clichés like “hard-working,” “go-getter,” and “team player”—without evidence to back it up.
The Fix: Replace fluff with facts. Demonstrate your leadership, adaptability or teamwork through measurable achievements and dynamic action verbs.
Why It Matters: Generic phrases dilute your impact. Clarity and specificity are what truly sell your value.
5. Typos and Grammatical Errors
The Mistake: Submitting a resume with spelling or grammar issues.
The Fix: Use both spellcheck and human proofreading. Read your resume out loud—and if possible, have a trusted friend or mentor review it before submitting.
Why It Matters: Your resume is often your first impression. Mistakes can signal carelessness or a lack of attention to detail.
Keep in mind that one typo can cost you a job, hence the need to proofread more than once.
6. Including Irrelevant or Outdated Information
The Mistake: Listing old, unrelated jobs or irrelevant personal details like marital status, age, or outdated software skills.
The Fix: Showcase the most recent 10-15 years of experience that’s relevant to the role. Focus on what an employer today cares about.
Why It Matters: Relevance is your resume’s real estate. Every line should earn its place.
Always remember that your resume is a strategic tool, not a biography. The modern resume is not a comprehensive history of your employment. It’s a marketing tool designed to highlight why you’re the solution to a company’s current problem.
Avoid common pitfalls like being too general, burying accomplishments, or presenting a visually unpolished document. Instead, lead with clarity, precision, and strategic relevance.
Fix the small mistakes now, because in hiring, small things can make a big difference.
Image Credit: Naukri.com
