21 Resume Mistakes to Avoid—and How to Fix Them
Resume Mistakes Can Eliminate Your Chance at an Interview
A resume is the first impression you make —it’s the key that unlocks the door to interviews and opportunities. Yet, countless candidates fall into common pitfalls that can lead to their applications being overlooked and resumes tossed. Whether you’re a fresh graduate, a seasoned executive, or somewhere in between, understanding the most common resume mistakes to avoid will help you craft a compelling resume that captures attention and drives the motivation for employers to connect with you. Here are 21 resume mistakes to avoid and how to sidestep them to improve your job search success.
Header Mistakes
- Outdated Contact Information
Using an old email address or phone number that’s no longer in service. Worse – a cutesy or gimmicky email like sweeterthanwine@gmail.com
Solution: Double check that all contact info is current and simple—stick to email, phone, and LinkedIn profile URL. - Missing LinkedIn Profile
A LinkedIn profile can strengthen your application.
Solution: Add a LinkedIn link, especially in industries that value networking. Better yet, make sure that your LinkedIn profile does NOT contradict your resume and use your LinkedIn profile to tell more of your story by writing a strong “About” section and including valuable posts, article, achievements in the “Features” section. - Too Much Personal Information
Listing full address, marital status, or age can unintentionally bias readers.
Solution: Limit it to email, cell, and LinkedIn profile. Some candidates have started to add photos but most experts recommend you let your LinkedIn photo do the work rather than your resume – again, a photo can cause problems with ATS and/or AI screening tools.Professional Summary Mistakes
- Skipping the Summary Altogether
Your resume has no introduction, making it harder for employers to see your value or understand at first glance the focus of your search.
Solution: Use a concise summary to introduce yourself and highlight key skills or achievements. This will help your reader know what your focus. - Using an Objective Instead of a Summary
Objectives are outdated and focus on what you want, not what you offer.
Solution: Replace with a summary to showcase your unique value and align with today’s standards.Experience Section Mistakes
- Vague Job Titles
Generic titles like “Associate” are unclear.
Solution: Clarify titles whenever possible, such as “Sales Associate in Luxury Retail.” - Listing Tasks Instead of Achievements
Listing tasks without context can make you blend in with others.
Solution: Focus on what you accomplished, such as “Increased customer satisfaction scores by 20%.” - Inconsistent Tenses
Switching between present and past tense within a single job is distracting.
Solution: Use present tense for your current job, past tense for previous roles. - Ignoring Employment Gaps
Unexplained gaps can raise questions.
Solution: Briefly explain gaps (e.g., freelance work, upskilling, volunteering) so they show intentional growth. - Using Paragraphs Instead of Bullet Points
Paragraphs are harder to scan quickly.
Solution: Bullet points make achievements pop and keep the reader’s attention. - Leaving Out Metrics
Without numbers, achievements seem vague.
Solution: Quantify successes where possible, such as “Reduced costs by 15% annually.” - Overloading Experience Section for Senior Roles or Over-Inflating Responsibilities.
Detailing every role in a 25-year career overwhelms recruiters.
Solution: Highlight the most recent 10-15 years; summarize earlier roles if relevant. Be truthful about your abilities, don’t over exaggerate.
Resume mistakes - Not Highlighting Transferable Skills for Career Changers
Making a career shift without connecting relevant skills can make you seem unprepared.
Solution: Emphasize transferable skills like leadership or project management. - Generic Descriptions of Accomplishments
Phrases like “hard worker” or “team player” are unmemorable.
Solution: Be specific—describe an actual accomplishment that shows those qualities.Skills Section Mistakes
- Leaving Out Relevant Tech Skills
Today’s jobs demand specific tech abilities, even outside of IT roles.
Solution: List tech skills specific to your field to show you’re versed in modern tools, software and apps. - Not Using Keywords or Overloading Keywords
Either omitting or stuffing keywords harms your ATS chances.
Solution: Strategically include keywords from the employer’s job description, but keep it sounding natural. - Including Irrelevant Skills or Jargon
Buzzwords like “team player” are expected, not differentiating.
Solution: Highlight skills that matter to the role and give concrete examples.Education Section Mistakes
- Listing GPA Unnecessarily
For most experienced professionals, GPA is irrelevant.
Solution: Only list it if you’re a recent graduate or applying for a position where it matters. - Including Outdated or Irrelevant Certifications
Older credentials can clutter your resume and detract from your current strengths.
Solution: Focus on recent, relevant certifications to keep your resume fresh.
General Formatting Mistakes
20. Using Outdated Resume Layouts
Fancy graphics or multi-column formats can confuse the ATS.
Solution: Stick to clean, single-column layouts, minimal graphics, and ATS-friendly fonts. If you feel the resume isn’t creative looking, craft a separate one that you can bring or share on your face-to-face (live or virtual) interview. Many candidates want a resume that looks more like a profile and you can have that for talking points and to showcase your personality – but make the resume you use to apply, uncomplicated with straightforward information
21. Over-Reliance on AI-Generated Resumes
AI tools can create generic content that lacks a personal touch.
Solution: Use AI as a draft, but personalize it to reflect your unique achievements and your own voice.
Last Thoughts…
Your resume is more than just a document; it’s your story—a key that unlocks opportunities. Its’ ONLY PURPOSE is to GET YOU THE INTERVIEW. By avoiding these resume mistakes to avoid, you can ensure that your application stands out. Invest time in crafting a polished resume, use these job hunting tips and watch as doors open to new possibilities in your career journey.
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Written by Nancy Schuman, CSP, the former Chief Commuications Officer for LLoyd Staffing.
A recruitment and career specialist, Nancy has more than 40 years in the staffing industry – 27 of them with LLoyd. Now semi-retired, she remains an advocate for career education; she has advised thousands of candidates on their resumes and job searches while also serving as the Careers columnist for a large weekly Long Island newspaper. Nancy has written 11 popular books for job seekers and business professionals. You can find her Author’s page and books on Amazon. She continues to blog for Lloyd and coach job seekers at all levels, offering advice for today’s competitive workplace.
