Resume · 3 min read
12 common resume mistakes and how to fix them
The mistakes that most often cost people interviews, from vague bullets to missing contact details, with a quick fix for each.
Most rejected resumes are not from bad candidates; they are hard to read quickly. A recruiter may spend less than a minute on a first look, so small problems add up. These are the mistakes we see most often, and how to fix each.
1. No numbers
"Improved sales" is easy to ignore. "Raised monthly sales by 20% in six months" is not. Add a number, a size or a time wherever you honestly can. If you do not have exact figures, use a reasonable estimate with a word like "about".
2. Duties instead of results
"Responsible for social media" describes the job. "Grew the page from 1,200 to 5,000 followers in four months" describes what you achieved in it. For each role, ask yourself: what changed because I was there?
3. Too long
One page is right for freshers and two pages for most others. Cut old and minor items, short-term jobs that do not relate to your goal, and anything that does not help you get this job.
4. An unprofessional email address
Use a name-based address, such as firstname.lastname@gmail.com, not a nickname or a joke. Make sure you check it often, because interview invitations are sent there.
5. Missing or hidden contact details
Put your phone and email at the top, as plain text. Do not put them only in a header or inside an image. Add your city, because many employers want to know where you live.
6. A generic objective
"Seeking a challenging position in a reputed organisation" fits everyone, so it tells the recruiter nothing. Replace it with a short summary of who you are and what you offer.
7. Skills you cannot defend
Anything on your resume can be asked about. If you list Python, expect a coding question; if you list "advanced Excel", expect to be asked about pivot tables or lookups. Keep only what you have really used.
8. The same resume for every job
Reorder your skills and bullets so the ones the job asks for come first. Change your summary to mention the role. Our tailor tool shows which skills match a role and which are missing, so you know what to move up.
9. Fancy design
Photos, graphics, icons, skill bars and columns often break when read by software, and they make it harder for a human to scan. Plain wins: one column, clear headings, consistent spacing.
10. Typos and mixed formats
A spelling mistake can suggest that you do not pay attention to detail. Read your resume aloud, and keep dates, tenses and capital letters consistent. Use past tense for finished jobs and present tense for your current one.
11. Weak file names
"resume final final 2.pdf" looks careless. Use YourName-Role.pdf, for example Asha-Rahman-Data-Analyst.pdf.
12. Gaps left unexplained
If you took time out to study, care for family or prepare for competitive exams, say so in one short line, for example "Career break (2024 to 2025): full-time preparation for the CAT exam". An honest line is better than a mystery.
A quick fix checklist
- Is every bullet started with a strong verb?
- Does at least half of your bullets have a number or result?
- Is your contact information easy to find?
- Is the file a PDF with a clear name?
- Have you read it aloud and corrected mistakes?
Want a quick check? Upload your resume to the resume check for a score and specific tips. If you want to rewrite your bullet points, see our guide on writing resume bullets with results.