See The 15 Most Common Resume Mistakes to Avoid

A resume must present you in the best light, and you certainly have seen plenty of advice online on how to write a perfect resume. But it’s also essential to understand which resume mistakes you should avoid. So, we’ll show you the 15 most common resume mistakes.?

1. Personal Pronouns

The recruiter already knows you’re talking about yourself, so using “I” and “me” is redundant. You can cut them from your sentences. For example, instead of "I managed a team of ten," write "Managed a team of ten."

2. Unprofessional Email Address

Remember that email you created when you were 14 years old? Consider using something different to look for a job. After all, an email address like "[email protected]" is unprofessional but a common resume mistake.

Use a simple address based on your name, like "[email protected]." Doing more than that will most likely result in a resume mistake.

3. Generic Objective Statement

“I want to grow professionally.” Well, so does everybody else. If you want to stand out, you need to be more specific than that. Write a resume summary highlighting the skills and experiences relevant to the job you’re applying for.

4. Physical Address

That’s unnecessary and can cause privacy concerns. It’s okay to include only your city and state.

5. Photos

Adding photos is one of the most common resume mistakes to avoid. They can cause an instant disqualification. Many companies have policies against considering resumes with photos to avoid any claims of bias. If you have a great headshot to share with the world, do so through your LinkedIn resume .

6. Personal Information

You must only include the information the recruiter needs to identify and contact you in your resume. So, include your full name, job title, phone number, and email. Avoid social security numbers, marital status, age, or other similar personal information on your resume .

7. Every Job You’ve Ever Had

A resume should be only two pages long . Max. So, adding every job you’ve ever had makes you waste precious space and the recruiter’s time as they read irrelevant information. Tailor your resume to your desired job and only include professional experiences related to that.

8. High School Details

If you have a college degree, there’s no need to list your high school education. Employers are more interested in your higher education and professional experience. But it’s okay to include that in your resume if you are among the many students who also work .

9. Hobbies

Unless your hobbies are directly related to the job you’re applying for, you should remove them. For example, mentioning your love for skydiving or knitting might be interesting but irrelevant to your professional qualifications.

10. Negative Experiences

Don’t turn your resume into an opportunity to complain about previous employers. Keep the tone of your resume. Yes, many people face hardships at work . But don’t include reasons for leaving previous jobs or any negative experiences you’ve had.

11. Salary Information

Salary negotiation will happen once you have a job offer, never in the early stages of recruitment, so don’t jump the gun here.

12. References

Similar to what’s above. Recruiters check references in later stages of recruitment, usually as a final check before sending you a job offer. Including references on your resume is premature and takes up valuable space.

Also, don’t include the infamous sentence “References available upon request.” Employers know they can contact your references. There's no need to say it.

13. Jargon and Buzzwords

Terms like "hardworking," "team player," or "results-driven" are overused and vague. Instead, use specific examples demonstrating these qualities through the achievements and responsibilities in your resume’s work experience section.

14. Graphics and Fancy Formatting

Overly creative layouts can confuse applicant tracking systems (ATS), which many companies use to scan resumes. Stick to a clean, professional format with standard fonts and bullet points.

15. GPA

Include your GPA only if it is 3.5 or higher, and you are early in your career. If you have substantial work experience, your GPA becomes less relevant. Instead, focus on your professional achievements.

Summary

By carefully curating your resume's content and avoiding these common pitfalls, you can create a document that showcases your qualifications and professionalism. A well-crafted resume highlights your strengths and respects potential employers' time and needs, increasing your chances of landing the job you want.

Read our full article on resume mistakes . It features an in-depth analysis of what you should and should not include in your resume.