5 Resume Mistakes That Will Land You in the Rejection Pile

Your resume is usually the first impression you make on a potential employer. In today’s highly competitive job market, a polished and professional resume can open doors to exciting opportunities, while a flawed one can quickly land you in the rejection pile. I have put together five common resume mistakes you should avoid to improve your chances of securing an interview:

1. Typos and Grammatical Errors

This one may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised by how many resumes are riddled with errors. Typos and grammatical mistakes signal a lack of attention to detail and can give the impression that you’re not serious about the job. Recruiters may question your language skills, communication skills, and overall professionalism if your resume contains mistakes.

Solution: If you have someone reliable to proofread your resume, great. If not, run your resume through a language model like ChatGPT, Copilot, or Gemini. These tools can help correct mistakes and improve clarity.

2. Too Generic Resume

A generic resume that could be used for any job will likely get passed over for every job. Many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to scan resumes for keywords that match the job description - and human recruiters do basically the same. If they don’t see a solid match, you’ll be eliminated from the candidate pool.

Solution: Don’t be lazy and tailor your resume to each specific position you apply for. Carefully analyze the job description and identify the key skills and experience required. Mirror the language used in the job description and showcase how your past accomplishments align with their needs. Include relevant keywords throughout your resume, wherever they fit naturally.

3. Vague Descriptions and Fluff

Using vague descriptions and buzzwords without concrete examples can render your resume useless. Employers are looking for specific achievements and tangible results. Simply describing your role with phrases like “results-oriented,” “dynamic,” or “strategic” won’t impress recruiters. These words are generic, highly subjective, and don't say anything about your true skills and unique strengths. A generic "resume objective" or summary falls into the same category.

Solution: Use specific examples and quantify your achievements whenever possible. Did you streamline a process, improve efficiency, or exceed sales targets? Quantify your results using data and metrics. For example, instead of stating "Managed social media accounts," say "Increased social media engagement by 20% through targeted content creation." If you want to include a summary on your resume, make sure it is tailored to the job and exactly matches what the company is looking for.

Note: Not every career is results-oriented. If you’re a receptionist, for example, no one really expects you to say things like “reduced visitor turnover time from x to y” (that would perhaps be a good thing for your boss to say in his resume). Focus on responsibilities and quantifying job scope rather than achievements. Mention details like working alone or in a team, and the number of visitors you handled daily.

4. Length Does Matter

In today's fast-paced world, recruiters are more likely to skim a one-page resume than read through a lengthy document. They typically spend only a few seconds scanning each resume. A lengthy resume makes it harder for them to find the most relevant information quickly and may be simply skipped. A concise resume, on the other hand, demonstrates strong communication and prioritization skills, which is a good sign for most employers.

Solution: Aim for a concise and impactful resume that highlights your most relevant skills and experience. Junior professionals should fit their resume onto one page. Senior professionals can focus on the last 10-15 years of their experience, as older experience may not be as relevant.

Note: If you have accumulated a lot of relevant experience (e.g., as a senior project manager), you don’t have to follow the ‘one-page resume’ mantra. In such a case, it is perfectly fine to have a longer resume, up to 3-4 pages.

5. Poor Formatting and Design

Infographic resumes might look cool and go viral on the internet, but they can be harmful to your job search - unless you’re applying for a highly creative role such as a graphic designer. Most recruiters prefer simple, professional designs that are easy to read. Infographic resumes can be confusing for human readers and often can’t be read by ATS as well.

Solution: Use a simple, professional resume template, like the one included for free with a copy of my book, ‘Get Your Dream Job’.

Conclusion

Your resume is a valuable tool in your job search arsenal, so you should put some effort into its creation. By avoiding the common mistakes described above, you can create a resume that stands out to hiring managers and increases your chances of landing that dream job.

Read Further:

You may also like my earlier article, ‘5 Easy Tweaks for Maximum Resume Impact’.

To learn everything about crafting an impactful resume from A to Z and get a professional resume template for free, get a copy of my book, ‘Get Your Dream Job’. It’s all there!

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