yourwaycareer

Utilize these resume tips to avoid common mistakes that could derail your job search.

You keep submitting applications, but your resume never seems to win you an interview opportunity. The problem likely lies not in your qualifications, but in hidden errors within your resume that cause you to miss out on great opportunities. Even the most experienced professionals can make mistakes, and sometimes just one error is enough to derail your job search.

Recruiters spend only a few seconds scanning each resume, so every detail is crucial. As you update or refine your next job application, pay attention to these common resume mistakes—more importantly, learn how to correct them to ensure you make a good first impression.

1. Trying to Use a “One-Size-Fits-All” Approach#

When you attempt to apply for all jobs with a generic resume, the end result is almost always being tossed into the trash by employers. Your lack of sincerity is akin to shouting, “I’m not particularly interested in your company; honestly, any job will do.”

Alternative: Tailor Your Resume for Each Position
You don’t need to start from scratch every time you write a resume; just make smart adjustments to align your resume with the target position.

To ensure your resume is optimized for the job you’re applying for, follow these five tips:

1. Scan for Keywords in the Job Posting. Match your skills and experiences with the exact terms used by the employer (especially hard skills and industry-specific tools).
2. Adjust Your Professional Summary. Write two to three sentences that showcase how your background directly relates to the key requirements of the position, and consider using a resume-building tool to help craft an engaging summary.
3. Reorder Your Bullet Points. Place your most relevant achievements at the top, even if they are not the most recent.
4. Highlight Transferable Skills. If you are changing industries, emphasize transferable skills applicable to different roles, such as leadership, project management, or communication.
5. Eliminate Irrelevant Content. Omit outdated or unrelated experiences that do not help your application for that specific position.

2. Copying Directly from the Job Ad#

One resume mistake that could cost you job opportunities is copying and pasting the entire job description into your resume. Plagiarizing the job ad is obvious to recruiters and is likely to result in missing out on an interview.

Alternative: Select Relevant Keywords from the Job Ad
If you want to convey that you are the ideal candidate, focus on the resume keywords (skills, qualifications, and areas of expertise) in the job ad that best describe your abilities. Naturally incorporate these resume skills into your summary, skills section, and bullet points of work experience to demonstrate that you meet the job requirements.

3. Using AI to Write Your Resume Without Editing#

Using conversational AI chatbots like ChatGPT or Gemini can be a valuable tool for job seekers pursuing speed and efficiency. However, relying entirely on AI to write your resume without adding a personal touch can be quite off-putting to recruiters.

Alternative: Review for Obvious AI Characteristics
What common mistakes does AI often make in copy? Be on the lookout for the following issues in AI-generated content and correct them before submitting your resume:

• “AI Tone” or Repetitive Language: Overly formal or casual language, or repetitive text can make your resume seem inauthentic.
• False or Exaggerated Information: Ensure you genuinely possess the skills and qualifications listed, and that any achievements are real; otherwise, your resume may be rejected.
• Inconsistent Style or Formatting: AI may switch tenses, bullet styles, or layouts, which can make your resume look unprofessional.
• Lack of Specificity: Generic achievements lacking data or examples can make your resume seem hollow or superficial.

4. Forgetting to Optimize for Applicant Tracking Systems#

Many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to scan resumes for keywords and relevant qualifications before manually reviewing them. If your resume does not contain the correct terminology, you may be automatically filtered out, even if you are fully qualified, reducing your chances of getting an interview.

Alternative: Optimize Your Resume for ATS
Follow these expert guidelines to avoid the most common ATS resume mistakes that could cost you the job:

• Use Keywords from the Job Posting. Incorporate specific skills, certifications, and industry terms exactly as they appear in the job ad.
• Stick to Standard Headings. Use labels like “Work Experience,” “Education,” and “Skills” to help the ATS identify each section.
• Avoid Complex Formatting. Do not use tables, text boxes, or graphics, as ATS software may not be able to read them.
• Include Both Acronyms and Full Names. For example, write “Search Engine Optimization (SEO)” to cover all keyword variations.
• Use Simple Fonts and Bullets. Keep your resume format clean and easy to read, friendly to both ATS and human recruiters.
• Submit in Preferred File Types. Job postings often specify PDF or Word format.

5. Not Using Action Verbs#

A common resume mistake is relying on weak or generic phrases like “responsible for” or “assisted.” These statements make your experiences sound passive and fail to convey the impact of your work. Without strong, action-oriented language, recruiters may overlook your achievements rather than recognize your initiative and accomplishments.

Alternative: Start Statements with Action Verbs
Begin each bullet point with dynamic verbs to highlight your contributions and make your resume more compelling.

As you write your job application, keep this powerful list of resume action verbs handy:

• Led: Demonstrates leadership or initiative
• Implemented: Highlights putting plans into action
• Developed: Showcases creation or improvement of projects, processes, or products
• Improved: Indicates measurable enhancement or optimization
• Generated: Signifies producing results, ideas, or revenue
• Managed: Shows responsibility for projects, teams, or processes
• Resolved: Highlights problem-solving ability
• Increased: Demonstrates growth, whether in sales, efficiency, or engagement
• Designed: Shows creativity and planning ability
• Streamlined: Indicates efficiency improvements
• Trained: Highlights mentoring, coaching, or knowledge transfer
• Achieved: Demonstrates successful outcomes or goal completion

6. Writing a Generic Summary#

Writing a generic resume summary is like making a mistake at the start of an important game. You waste a potentially successful opportunity. Since the resume summary is the first part recruiters read in their notorious seven-second resume scan, a one-size-fits-all approach won’t work.

Alternative: Customize Your Summary for the Position
If there’s one section you should customize for the target position, it’s the resume summary. Ensure you include two to three skills requested in the job ad, any must-have qualifications like licenses or degrees, and a unique achievement that reflects the employer’s expectations for the role.

Resume Summary Example:

“Results-driven brand manager with an MBA in marketing, skilled in strategic brand development and digital marketing campaign management. Successfully led a product relaunch that increased market share by 15% within six months, combining data-driven insights with creative storytelling to enhance brand visibility.”

7. Highlighting Responsibilities Instead of Achievements#

A common resume mistake is simply listing your job responsibilities rather than showcasing your achievements. It’s easy to fall into the trap of copying the job description and writing statements like:

• Attended team meetings and took minutes
• Worked with children at a daycare
• Updated departmental files

Alternative: Focus on Results, Not Tasks
While these statements describe what you did, they do not showcase how well you did it or the impact you made. Employers are not only looking for evidence of task completion; they want to see the results of your work and how you added value to your team or organization.

If you’re unsure how to identify achievements in your resume, ask yourself the following questions:

• How did I perform this job better than others?
• What challenges or problems did I face, and how did I overcome them?
• What were the results, and what benefits did the company gain?
• Did I receive any awards, recognition, or promotions because of my work?

Then, adjust your bullet points to focus on the measurable impact of your work, making your resume stand out. For example:

• Recorded weekly meeting minutes and organized them into Word documents for future reference by the organization
• Developed three daily activities for preschool children and prepared a 10-minute holiday program performance for them
• Restructured a decade’s worth of departmental files for easier access by all team members

8. Using Weak or Vague Resume Bullet Points#

One consequence of confusing generic job responsibilities with achievements is that statements become weak or vague, resulting in bullet points that could apply to anyone in your industry.

Alternative: Use the STAR Formula to Write Bullet Points
To write impactful achievement-oriented bullet points, the key is to follow this trusted formula:

[Action Verb] + [Task] + [Result/Impact]

This approach makes your contributions clear and measurable. For example:

• Initiated a social media campaign that increased user engagement by 35% within three months
• Resolved customer inquiries, achieving a 95% customer satisfaction rate and improving customer retention
• Led a cross-functional project that reduced production costs by 12%

9. Ignoring Important Details#

You may want to keep your resume as brief as possible, but trying to cram everything onto one page can lead to a serious mistake: omitting necessary information. Whether it’s degrees, industry certifications, or key achievements, neglecting these details can make you appear unqualified.

Remember, recruiters and ATS often scan for specific qualifications, and if this information is missing, your resume may be filtered out before anyone sees your experience.

Alternative: Showcase Necessary Qualifications
To avoid this, place your education and certifications in a clearly labeled section, using the exact terminology from the job ad (e.g., CPA, PMP, BA/BS). Don’t forget to consider ongoing training, software certifications, or unique qualifications that set you apart, such as language skills or professional memberships.

Your resume should be long enough to effectively tell your story. Don’t sacrifice impressive achievements or key qualifications to meet a certain resume length.

10. Stuffing Your Resume with “Fluff”#

Another mistake is stuffing your resume with irrelevant details or repetitive information, which can overwhelm recruiters and dilute your strongest assets. A cluttered, filler-filled resume may make it difficult for hiring managers to identify your key achievements, reducing your chances of being noticed.

Alternative: Focus on the Most Relevant Details
Streamline your content by asking yourself, “Does this statement help me get an interview?” Only include achievements, skills, and experiences that demonstrate your value. Keep the content concise and focused—typically one to two pages, depending on experience—so that every word sells your qualifications without unnecessary fluff.

11. Overusing Clichés and Buzzwords#

A common resume mistake is filling bullet points with outdated phrases like “hardworking,” “team player,” or “detail-oriented.” These overused terms do not provide concrete evidence of your abilities and may cause your resume to blend in with dozens of others. Recruiters are looking for proof of impact, not generic descriptors; relying on clichés can weaken your overall impression.

Alternative: Specify Your Skills and Achievements
Instead of overusing buzzwords, demonstrate your skills and qualities through measurable achievements and specific examples that illustrate your capabilities. Focus on action-oriented statements that show how you contributed or achieved results.

For example:

• Don’t say: “Team player who meets deadlines”
• Say: “Collaborated with a cross-functional team to launch a product two weeks ahead of schedule”
• Don’t say: “Detail-oriented and organized”
• Say: “Audited over 500 invoices, ensuring 100% accuracy and compliance with company policies”

12. Ignoring Spelling and Grammar Mistakes#

Yes, we know this is perhaps the most obvious of all resume mistakes: if your resume is not grammatically perfect, employers will read between the lines and draw unfavorable conclusions about you, such as “this person lacks writing skills” or “this person clearly doesn’t care.”

Alternative: Use Spell-Check Tools
So how can you best avoid those formatting errors and grammatical issues that could lead to your application being immediately rejected? Follow these tips:

• Proofread multiple times. Read your resume aloud to catch errors you might overlook.
• Use tools. Grammar and spell-check tools like Grammarly can help identify mistakes.
• Ask someone else to review it. Have a friend, mentor, or professional review your resume for accuracy and clarity.
• Take a break. Stepping away for a few hours or days before reviewing again can help you see errors more clearly.

13. Using Poor Formatting and Design#

Another common resume mistake is using inconsistent formatting or cluttered design. Dense text, multiple fonts, or irregular spacing can make it difficult for recruiters to find key information. Even strong experiences may be overlooked if the resume is visually confusing, leaving the impression that the candidate is disorganized or careless.

Alternative: Choose a Clean, Consistent Template
The solution is to use a professional resume template that keeps your resume clean, consistent, and easy to scan. Resume templates use professional fonts, clear headings, and bullet points to separate text and are often ATS-friendly.

A well-formatted resume allows your skills and achievements to shine, increasing your chances of landing an interview.

14. Missing or Incorrect Contact Information#

Imagine a candidate has an outstanding paper resume but receives no interview calls. Could the problem be as simple as missing a phone number—or even writing one digit wrong? If corrected, perhaps the calls would start coming in.

Alternative: Share Necessary Contact Information
Before submitting your resume, carefully check every tiny detail in your contact information. Your resume should always include the following essential contact items:

• First and last name
• City and state of residence
• Phone number
• Email address
• LinkedIn or professional social media accounts (optional)

Frequently Asked Questions#

Check out these hot questions about resume writing and how to avoid other common resume mistakes.

1. Should I include references on my resume?
Typically, you should not include references on your resume. Listing references on your resume is an outdated practice that takes up valuable space. Additionally, employers usually request references later in the hiring process. You should prepare a separate list of references to provide only when asked.

2. How far back should my work experience go on my resume?
When writing your resume, focus on the past 10 to 15 years of experience to showcase your most recent and relevant achievements and skills. You can summarize earlier positions in one or two bullet points or omit them entirely.

3. Is it okay to include hobbies or personal interests on my resume?
Yes, as long as these hobbies or interests provide relevant information to the employer, it is perfectly fine to include them on your resume. You can create a separate section for hobbies to showcase additional transferable skills like leadership, creativity, or proficiency with specific work tools.

4. Should I list every job I’ve ever had on my resume?
If you have less than eight years of work experience and each position is relevant to your target job (even indirectly), you should include every job on your resume. Most positions provide transferable skills or relevant expertise that you can highlight.

However, once you have several years of experience in your field, unrelated entry-level jobs—like retail work during college—can be omitted. For example, a finance professional with six years of experience in banking does not need to list a part-time retail job, as it does not add value to their resume.

5. Can I use a creative or non-traditional resume format?
Yes! Depending on your career goals and years of experience, you can consider three main resume formats to determine which one suits you best. While the chronological resume format is the most common, it is best suited for applicants with 10 years or more of experience. The functional resume format is ideal for candidates with less experience, while the combination or hybrid resume format is better for mid-level professionals.

The Final Step to Perfecting Your Resume#

When writing your resume, there are many traps to avoid, so when you finally get it polished, you’ll want to have it reviewed to ensure it’s flawless. Need help? Send it to YOURWAYCAREER experts for evaluation. We’ll look for any lingering errors for you to correct, so you can start your job search with confidence. Think of it as insurance for your resume.