The 10 Most Common Resume Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)
Most resumes that don't get interviews aren't rejected because the candidate was unqualified — they're rejected because of fixable mistakes. Here are the 10 most common ones and exactly how to address them.
Using a generic resume for every application
HighA resume that's written for every job is written for no job. Recruiters can tell when a summary doesn't match the role, and ATS systems will score generic resumes lower because they miss job-specific keywords.
✓ The fix
Tailor your summary, skills section, and top bullets for each application. Mirror the language of the job description. This alone can double your response rate.
Listing job duties instead of achievements
High"Responsible for managing the sales team" tells a recruiter what your job title implied. It says nothing about whether you were good at it.
✓ The fix
Replace every duty-based bullet with an achievement-based one: what you did + what resulted. Add numbers wherever possible. "Grew team from 4 to 9 reps, increasing regional revenue by 67% in 18 months."
No professional summary (or a bad one)
HighJumping straight into work history forces the recruiter to piece together your story themselves. Many won't bother. An outdated objective statement ("Seeking a challenging role...") is worse than nothing.
✓ The fix
Write a 3–4 sentence summary that names your role, your strongest skill or achievement, and a signal of fit for this specific job. See our guide to resume summary examples.
Poor formatting that breaks ATS
HighTwo-column layouts, tables, text boxes, headers and footers, and graphic-heavy designs all cause problems for ATS parsers. Your beautiful Canva template may be completely unreadable by the system that filters your application.
✓ The fix
Use a single-column layout with standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Georgia). No tables, no text boxes, no graphics. Save as a plain PDF or DOCX.
Missing keywords from the job description
HighATS systems score your resume against the job description. If the job asks for "stakeholder management" and you wrote "managing relationships with clients," you may fail the keyword match even though you have the skill.
✓ The fix
Read the job description carefully and include its exact language — especially for skills, tools, and qualifications you genuinely have.
Resume is too long (or too short)
MediumA 3-page resume with 10 years of experience says you can't edit. A 1-page resume with 20 years says you're hiding something. Neither creates the right impression.
✓ The fix
Under 5 years experience = 1 page. Over 10 years = 2 pages. See our guide on resume length for specific rules.
Including irrelevant or outdated experience
MediumA job from 15 years ago that has nothing to do with the role you're applying for takes up space and dilutes the relevance of what came before it.
✓ The fix
Remove roles older than 15 years unless they're directly relevant. For early career roles, reduce to 1–2 bullets or remove entirely.
Spelling and grammar errors
MediumA single typo can end an application — especially in roles where written communication is part of the job. It signals lack of attention to detail.
✓ The fix
Run spellcheck. Then read it out loud. Then have someone else read it. Common missed errors: "manger" instead of "manager", "their/they're", inconsistent tense.
Using the wrong file format
LowSending a PDF exported from Canva or InDesign can corrupt ATS parsing. Some companies' systems can't open .pages files (Mac-native). An older .doc file may render oddly.
✓ The fix
Submit as .docx or a simple text-based PDF (not an image-based one). When in doubt, .docx is the safest option for ATS compatibility.
Including a photo or personal information
LowIn the UK, US, Canada, and Australia, photos on resumes are not standard practice and can inadvertently introduce bias. Age, nationality, religion, and marital status have no place on a professional resume.
✓ The fix
Remove any photo. Include only: name, professional email, phone, city/region, LinkedIn URL, and portfolio link if relevant.
How to audit your own resume
Go through your current resume with this checklist. A “no” on any of these is something to fix before your next application:
If you want a more detailed guide to what recruiters check when they scan your resume, read our article on what recruiters actually look for.