Your resume serves as your professional representation, so you simply cannot afford to have any resume mistakes in your application. Depending on the degree of your mistake, there are three ways your application could be affected. You may either:
❌ Leave a bad impression (unprofessional email or a document that's too long)
❌ Lose your chance of getting the job (not ATS-optimized)
❌ Worst-case scenario, you could get blacklisted by a potential employer (lying on a resume)
Surveys reveal that 76% of executives will eliminate a candidate from consideration for even one or two typos. A large percentage of employers consider resume mistakes as deal-breakers and reason enough not to read the rest of the application. Some go as far as to say that they would rather prefer a resume with less experience and no mistakes than more experience but more mistakes. So, if companies are not responding to you, there’s a good chance that your resume contains one or more of these crucial errors. Let's fix them!
9 Most Common Resume Mistakes to Avoid
Make sure to look out for these common resume mistakes and correct them before sending out your application again. Awareness of these resume mistakes will boost your chances of earning a recruiter’s approval and securing that elusive interview.
#1 Spelling and Grammatical Errors
This is probably the most common of all resume mistakes, and definitely one that can easily be avoided simply by reviewing your application or having an English-proficient friend proofread your document for you. There are also online grammar spell-checking tools you can use to ensure your resume is pitch-perfect and completely typo-free. And don’t forget to proofread your resume before and after printing because you never know what other errors you may find. Here are a few useful tips on how to proofread your resume and what to keep in mind while doing it:
✅ Use online proofreading tools – Leverage tools like Grammarly, Hemingway Editor, or ProWritingAid to catch errors quickly. These can help spot grammar mistakes, awkward phrasing, and typos before you submit your resume.
✅ Read your resume out loud – Sometimes, hearing the words can help you catch mistakes that your eyes might skip over. If something sounds unnatural when spoken, it likely needs tweaking.
✅ Use a reverse editing technique – Read your resume backward, from the last word to the first. This forces your brain to focus on each word individually instead of automatically filling in the blanks.
✅ Understand resume style rules – Keep in mind that, unlike formal writing, resumes often drop articles (a, an, the) to maintain a concise, newspaper-style format. For example, instead of saying "Managed the company’s digital marketing strategy," you can write "Managed company digital marketing strategy."
#2 Inconsistencies
Many recruiters consider inconsistencies worse than typos. If the start and end dates of your employment history don’t line up, or if there’s some conflict between your resume and the information you post on social media platforms such as LinkedIn, you could raise red flags concerning your truthfulness and the legitimacy of the information you are presenting to recruiters. Other forms of inconsistencies include using fonts of different types and sizes, shifting verb tenses, and misaligned margins and spacing.
✅ Cross-check your resume and LinkedIn profile – Ensure your job titles, company names, and employment dates match exactly across all platforms. Recruiters often compare resumes with LinkedIn, that's why inconsistencies can create doubt.
✅ Stick to one formatting style – Use the same font, size, and spacing throughout your resume. Consider using a resume builder or engaging a professional resume writer. Avoid mixing bullet styles, margin alignments, and bold/italic formatting inconsistently.
✅ Keep verb tenses consistent – Use past tense for previous roles (Managed projects, Led a team) and present tense for current responsibilities (Manage projects, Lead a team). Inconsistent verb tenses can make your resume look sloppy and unpolished.
#3 Exaggerations
Exaggerating or outright lying is just not the way to advance your career. It’s easier now more than ever for potential employers to confirm the information on your resume, and if they catch you being dishonest, then you might as well kiss your chances of getting hired goodbye. Even if you somehow squeak through and get invited for an interview, you’ll need to defend your resume, and the more you try to cover up your exaggerations, the more deceptive you’ll appear to the interviewer. For your sake, always be forthcoming with the information you put in your resume. Here is how to avoid exaggerations and make sure your resume retains its impact:
✅ Stick to quantifiable achievements – Instead of inflating numbers, provide accurate and measurable results. For example, if you grew sales, state the actual percentage based on records rather than making up a figure.
✅ Avoid inflating job titles – If you were an “assistant manager,” don’t list yourself as “senior manager” just to sound more impressive. Employers verify job titles through background checks and references.
✅ Be honest about skills – Don’t claim proficiency in software or languages you barely know. Instead, use accurate descriptors like “familiar with” or “basic knowledge of” to reflect your actual abilities.
✅ Use references to back up your claims – If you list major accomplishments, ensure past colleagues or supervisors can vouch for them (LinkedIn is the best place to list them). Exaggerated achievements that cannot be verified raise red flags. Be careful when listing the references on your resume; it is usually unnecessary for a typical document. A CV is a different story.
✅ Proofread for overstatements – Before submitting, review your resume for any over-the-top claims. If something sounds too good to be true, reconsider how you’ve framed it to ensure accuracy without stretching the truth.
#4 Blocks of text
Recruiters and hiring managers only take an average of six seconds to scan a resume. This means you’ll have to keep information minimal, so - no solid blocks of text. Strike the right balance between text and white space to draw your readers to your most job-relevant skills, experiences, and accomplishments so they can immediately see that you are a qualified candidate. Here are some dos and don'ts:
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Break up long descriptions into bullet points (ideally 3–6 per role) to make your experience easier to skim.
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Each bullet should be concise and focused. Aim for short, impactful statements that highlight results and key contributions.
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Use spacing strategically between different parts of your resume (experience, education, skills) to improve flow and readability.
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Avoid writing in large blocks of uninterrupted text—it can overwhelm the reader and bury important information.
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Don’t repeat generic phrases or overexplain common duties. Stick to accomplishments and specifics.
- Don’t cram all the relevant buzzwords into a single paragraph. Spread them naturally throughout your resume, especially in bullet points.
#5 Clichés
If you’re still using tired terms like team-player, results-driven, go-getter, or self-motivated, then recruiters won’t see how you stand out from the rest of the cookie-cutter resumes saying the same things. In your summary statement, use fresh and simple terms and keywords as best you can to relay to a prospective employer the value you offer as a potential employee. Don't overdo it, though! In an attempt to sound fresh and different, a lot of job seekers stuff their resumes with thesaurus versions of traditional verbs - that's now what your resume requires.
Example of a strong resume wording:
- Increased regional freight sales by 35% within six months, generating an additional $250K in quarterly revenue.
Here is what NOT to write:
- Successfully spearheaded strategic initiatives to drive substantial growth in regional logistics sales, contributing to enhanced market presence and overall business development.
Do you see the difference?
#6 Too generalized
Relying on your potential value can only happen if you tailor the content of your resume to the job and company in question. Hyper-personalization is the new gold standard and is recognized as one of the top trends in resume writing in 2025 and beyond. Tailoring your resume shows that you know the requirements of the position by heart. It also tells employers that you took the time to get to know the company, which only serves to impress potential employers.
Hyper-personalization matters more than ever in the age of AI because recruiters are flooded with templated resumes and cover letters that all sound the same. Many candidates copy entire phrases - or even entire documents - making it painfully obvious that their application wasn’t tailored for the role. When every cover letter and resume reads like a slightly edited version of the last, it signals a lack of effort, interest, and authenticity - qualities that can instantly put a candidate in the “no” pile. Remember that it still takes a human to hire a human, and until that remains the case - make sure you customize your resume for a human reader.
To avoid common resume mistakes, such as this one, thoroughly read the job description and find a way to make your past work experiences show how you are a good fit for the role and company.
#7 Exceeding two pages
Ideally, resumes should be no longer than one page - two at most. Making your resume too long only makes it harder for the recruiter to determine whether you’re a good candidate for an interview and dilutes the impact.
If your resume exceeds two pages, get rid of some of the information until you have a one- or two-pager that effectively highlights your personality, skills, and aspirations for your role. Focus on quality instead of quality, and you’ll have a bigger chance of nabbing the recruiter’s attention.
However, as with every rule, there are exceptions:
#8 Outdated information
When was the last time you updated your resume? Ideally, you should update your document every six months - not only when you’re applying for jobs. If you send out a resume with outdated information, you could give the impression that your qualifications are equally obsolete.
Make sure your resume contains your latest jobs, skills, achievements, and, most importantly, your current contact information. We have a fantastic guide on how to structure your resume and how to create the best resume outline you can update and easily customize in the future. Here are the six key takeaways:
✅ Start with a clear header: Include your full name, professional title, contact information, and links to your LinkedIn profile or personal website.
✅ Craft a compelling summary or objective statement: Write a brief 2-4 sentence introduction that highlights your experience, key skills, and career goals.
✅ Detail your work experience: List your professional history in reverse chronological order, emphasizing achievements and responsibilities for each role.
✅ Highlight your education: Provide information about your degrees, institutions attended, and any relevant honors or coursework.
✅ Showcase your skills: Include a section dedicated to both hard and soft skills pertinent to the job you're seeking.
✅ Consider additional sections: Add areas for certifications, volunteer work, or projects that demonstrate your qualifications and interests.
#9 Lack or overuse of keywords
Recruiters are employing ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) to help identify resumes that contain keywords matching those in the job description. These keywords often reflect job qualifications, skills, and experience. If your resume is missing most - or all - of them, it might score lower and appear further down the list, making it less likely to be invited for an interview. That said, it's important to remember that recruiters are still required to review every application manually, so ATS won’t automatically disqualify you - but optimizing your resume can improve your visibility and definitely won't hurt.
On the flip side, overstuffing your resume with buzzwords is one of the biggest resume flops you can make. It can sound unnatural and even raise red flags about whether you truly have the skills you're claiming. The best approach is to use keywords strategically and in context.
Here is how:
✅ Use the exact wording from the job description - If the job ad asks for "project management," don’t just say you’re good at “leading teams” - include “project management” in your experience if it applies to you.
✅ Include a skills section - Either right under your Career Summary or Resume Objective Statement or after your Education section, a clean, keyword-rich skills section helps ATS systems quickly recognize your core competencies.
✅ Tailor your resume for each job - This doesn’t mean rewriting everything—just adjust certain phrases or achievements to better align with the job description.
✅ Avoid over-formatting - ATS systems can sometimes struggle with unusual fonts, columns, or graphics. Keep the format simple and clean for better parsing.
✅ Use both acronyms and full terms - For example, if you’re experienced with "SEO," also write out "Search Engine Optimization" somewhere in your resume. This increases your chances of matching a variety of search queries.
✅ Don’t forget soft skills and context - Use keywords naturally within sentences that show how you applied the skill or knowledge in a real situation.
Write your resume with us
Crafting a great resume isn’t easy, and it’s surprisingly common to make small mistakes that can cost you big - things like typos, inconsistent formatting, or trying to cram in too much information. It’s also easy to go overboard with buzzwords or forget to tailor your resume for the job you’re applying to. These days, even with ATS in the mix, it’s still real people reading your resume, and they’re looking for clarity, honesty, and relevance. The goal isn’t to list everything you’ve ever done - it’s to highlight what matters most. We hope this guide helps you spot and avoid the most common resume missteps so you can put your best foot forward. And if you ever need a hand, the professional certified writers of Resumeble - consistently voted top resume writing service - are always here to help.
