Common resume mistakes can hurt your job search, but most are easy to fix. Typos, bad grammar, and outdated contact details make you seem careless, while over-the-top designs and cluttered formatting can make your resume hard to read or stop it from passing through ATS. Vague summaries, irrelevant work history, and weak action verbs also lower your impact. To avoid these errors, focus on clarity, relevance, and professionalism — customize your resume for each job, highlight measurable achievements, and ensure a clean, consistent design.
Patrick took a quick glance at his resume and spotted it — he’d written “experianced” instead of “experienced.” How embarrassing. Especially since he’d been bragging about his attention to detail on his resume and he’d already sent it to 11 companies. Then his friend Mary looked it over and pointed out that hobbies unrelated to the job shouldn’t be on your resume, no matter how proud you are of them. And Mary’s biggest mistake? She sent her resume out with the wrong email address on it.
What resume blunders might you be making — like Patrick and Mary — that could land your resume in the reject pile?
This guide is here to help you avoid those missteps. We’ll cover:
- The most common resume mistakes and how to fix them.
- An example of a flawless, ATS-friendly resume.
Want a shiny new ATS-friendly resume? Try the free AI Resume Builder. And don’t miss our other helpful guides:
- The Reverse Chronological Resume (the Most Popular Format)
- Tips for Writing Your Resume
- How to Tailor Your Resume to A Job
- How to Survive a Layoff
Common Resume Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)
In short: spelling errors, flashy designs, and poor formatting can hurt your chances, so use simple, clean layouts and double-check your work. Avoid vague objectives and job duties, and focus on measurable results. Tailor your resume for each job, highlighting relevant skills and experience. Lastly, don’t lie or include unnecessary personal details — keep it professional and concise. Proofreading is essential, and don’t forget to ensure contact info is up to date.
Even the most qualified candidates can make resume mistakes — it happens. The good news is that most are simple to fix once you know what to watch out for. Whether it’s vague bullet points, clunky formatting, or the dreaded typos, we’ll break down the most common slip-ups and show you how to avoid them.
1. Spelling and grammar mistakes
Typos and grammar slip-ups might seem small, but they can make you look sloppy, and employers want someone who’s detail-oriented.
How to avoid this mistake:
- Proofread your resume a few times — reading it out loud helps catch mistakes.
- Use spell-check tools like Grammarly, but don’t trust them blindly.
2. Flashy resume designs
A fancy resume might look cool, but it can backfire. Too many colors or graphics can make your resume hard to read and even mess with the Applicant Tracking System (ATS), preventing it from ever getting to a hiring manager.
How to avoid this mistake:
- A subtle pop of color is fine, but stick to a white background with black text for easy reading.
- Avoid images, icons, or flashy graphics — unless you’re in a creative field.
- Use an ATS-friendly resume template to make sure your resume gets seen.
3. Poor formatting
If your resume is cluttered or tough to skim, recruiters won’t bother — they’ll just move on. Overcrowded text, tiny fonts, or too many design elements can make you look unorganized and trip up an ATS. A clean, well-structured layout helps your key info stand out.
How to avoid this mistake:
- Go for a simple, single-column format with clear section headings like “Experience,” “Skills,” and “Education.”
- Choose easy-to-read fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Verdana, in 10–12 pt for body text and 14–16 pt for headings.
- Keep plenty of white space with single or 1.15 spacing and one-inch margins.
4. Outdated or incorrect contact information
Even the best resume won’t get you far if employers can’t reach you. A wrong phone number or an old email in your resume header means missed opportunities. And if your email is something that would make you cringe if read out loud, it’s time for an upgrade.
How to avoid this mistake:
- Double-check your phone number and use an email you check often.
- Keep your email professional — stick to your name or a simple variation.
- Update your location if you’ve moved (city and state or country).
5. Vague objective or summary
A generic intro like “hardworking professional seeking growth” doesn’t tell employers anything about what you can actually do. Your resume objective or summary should be specific, results-driven, and tailored to the job you’re applying for.
How to avoid this mistake:
- Start with a strong opening statement like “Detail-oriented project manager” or “Customer-focused barista with 3+ years of experience.”
- Highlight key skills and measurable achievements, e.g. “increased customer satisfaction by 20%.”
- Customize it for each job by mentioning the job title and company name and using keywords from the job description.
- If you’re new to the field, focus your objective on transferable skills and your eagerness to learn and grow within the team. For more experienced professionals, use your resume summary to showcase top achievements and years in the industry.
Here’s a sample resume summary for a criminal lawyer:
Experienced criminal defense attorney with 8+ years in complex litigation and negotiation. Proven success in achieving favorable outcomes through strategic case preparation and courtroom expertise. Eager to leverage my skills at [Firm Name] to protect client rights and deliver winning results.
Need help writing yours? Try the Rezi AI Resume Summary Generator.
6. Not using bullet points
If your resume is just a massive block of text, recruiters will probably skim past it. Long paragraphs make it harder for them to quickly spot your key skills and accomplishments.
How to avoid this mistake:
- Use 3–8 bullet points per job to describe your biggest achievements and responsibilities.
- Keep each point short and impactful — one sentence is plenty.
- Try the CAR method (challenge, action, result) to showcase your impact. Example: “increased Instagram followers by 40% in three months through engaging content and polls, boosting foot traffic by 15%.”
7. Focusing only on job duties
Employers don’t just want to know what you did — they want to see how well you did it.
How to avoid this mistake:
- Link your tasks to real results. Instead of “managed cash register,” write “processed $5,000+ in daily transactions with 100% accuracy.”
- Use numbers when possible to show off your impact. Example: “led a team of 5 to improve order processing, cutting wait times by 30 minutes.”
- Describe how your work benefited the company or customers — did you save time, solve a problem, reduce costs, improve sales, or enhance customer experience?
8. Weak or inconsistent verb usage
Using vague phrases like “responsible for” doesn’t show what you actually did, and switching between verb tenses can make your resume look messy.
How to avoid this mistake:
- Use past tense for previous jobs (“oversaw social media accounts”) and present tense for current roles (“analyzing financial data”).
- Replace weak verbs like “worked on” or “made” for impactful ones like “designed,” “developed,” or “optimized.”
- Skip the pronoun and begin each bullet point with a strong action verb.
9. Leaving out key skills and experience
If your resume doesn’t clearly showcase your most relevant skills, hiring managers (and the ATS) won’t see you as a strong candidate. Being too vague or skipping crucial details can cost you the job.
How to avoid this mistake:
- Focus on skills, projects, and experience that directly relate to the job.
- If you don’t have traditional work experience, mention transferable skills from volunteering, school projects, or hobbies.
- Changing careers? Show how your past skills apply — like a server talking about multitasking and customer service skills for an office role.
- Get specific. Instead of “programming languages,” list the exact ones, like Java, Python, or C++.
10. Overloading the skills section
Including every skill you’ve ever learned just clutters your resume and hides the ones that really matter. The skills section should be focused and relevant.
How to avoid this mistake:
- Focus on the skills in the job posting — if they ask for SQL or Photoshop and you have experience, add them.
- Remove anything that doesn’t relate to the job. For instance, “basic car maintenance” probably doesn’t belong on a marketing resume.
- Weave your skills into your work experience. If you’re listing “project management,” show how you led a team to finish a project ahead of schedule.
11. Listing every certification
Congrats on earning all those certifications, but sadly it’s best to only feature the ones that show you’re qualified for the role. That 120-hour TEFL certification is impressive, but it won’t do much for you if you’re applying for a tech position.
How to avoid this mistake:
- Spotlight certifications that are required or add value to the job.
- Leave out expired certifications, and only mention others if they highlight transferable skills.
- Always include the full certification name, issuing organization, and completion date.
Here’s an example of how to format your certifications section:
Certifications
LEED Accredited Professional | U.S. Green Building Council | 2021
Project Management Professional (PMP) | Project Management Institute | 2020
Autodesk Revit Certification | Autodesk | 2019
NCARB Certification | National Council of Architectural Registration Boards | 2018
Architectural Licensing (State of New York) | Licensed Architect | 2017
12. Using the same resume for every job
Sending a generic resume shows a lack of effort and interest in the specific job. Customizing your resume proves you’ve read the job description and are genuinely invested in the position.
How to avoid this mistake:
- Start with a great resume, then tweak it for each job, emphasizing the skills and experience that match the role.
- Use the exact keywords from the job description to help your resume get noticed by the ATS.
Need help? Rezi AI Keyword Targeting scans the job description and gives you a list of relevant resume keywords.
13. Making your resume too long
Don’t force hiring managers to dig through pages of unnecessary details. Your resume should highlight what truly matters for the job — nothing more.
How to avoid this mistake:
- Stick to a one-page resume (a two-page resume is okay if you have 10+ years of relevant experience).
- Only include experience that adds value — if it doesn’t directly relate to the job, cut it.
- Showcase relevant skills, even from non-traditional experience. For example, if you need leadership skills, talk about the team management skills from your volunteer work, rather than focusing on unrelated roles like scooping ice cream.
14. Using unnecessary jargon or buzzwords
Jargon and buzzwords can make your resume sound fake and impersonal. Hiring managers want to see what you’ve done, not generic terms like “results-driven” or “problem-solver.”
How to avoid this mistake:
- Replace vague terms with specific examples:
- Instead of “team player,” say “collaborated with teams to launch a new product.”
- Instead of “hard worker,” say “consistently exceeded quarterly targets by 15%.”
- Only use technical terms if they’re relevant to the role and you’ve actually worked with them, like “agile methodology” or “SEO optimization.”
- Read your resume aloud — if it sounds robotic or awkward, simplify it.
15. Keyword stuffing or white fonting
Including the right keywords helps your resume pass ATS scans, but overloading with keywords or hiding text in white font can backfire. These tactics make your resume appear unnatural and are easily detected by ATS and recruiters.
How to avoid this mistake:
- Mention keywords naturally in your work history, education, and skills sections.
- Use job description terms where they fit, but don’t force or copy them.
16. Adding references
There’s no need to list references or say “references available upon request.” If an employer wants them, they’ll ask later — so don’t waste space on your resume.
How to avoid this mistake:
- Use that space to highlight your skills and experience instead.
- Keep a separate reference list handy in case an employer asks. If you need help putting yours together, read our guide on how to ask for a reference.
17. Attaching a photo
While adding a photo might seem like a good way to personalize your resume, it’s not typical and can take attention away from your skills. It can also create bias or even lead to legal complications for employers.
How to avoid this mistake:
- Only include a photo if it’s specifically requested, like for modeling or acting roles.
- If you really want to show off your professional headshot, put it as your LinkedIn profile picture instead.
18. Adding unrelated personal details
Your resume should focus on your professional qualifications, not your personal life. Including irrelevant information can distract from your skills and make you seem unprofessional.
How to avoid this mistake:
- Leave out personal info like age, social security number, gender, marital status, religion, or ethnicity.
- Don’t add your street address — just the city and state or country.
- Only mention hobbies on your resume if they’re relevant to the job and you’re light on experience.
19. Mislabeling the file
After all the work you put into your resume, don’t let it get buried under a bunch of files named “Resume.” Make sure it’s easy to find.
How to avoid this mistake:
- Name your file something clear, like “FirstName_LastName_Resume.”
- Send your resume as a PDF unless the job ad asks for a Word document.
20. Lying about experience or skills
Stretching the truth about your experience might seem tempting, but it’s risky. Employers check details, and if you’re asked about them in an interview or expected to prove your abilities once hired, things could get awkward quickly if they find out you lied.
How to avoid this mistake:
- Be honest about what you can do — they’ll respect your honesty and may be open to training you.
- Focus on transferable skills or related experience that still make you a strong candidate.
- If you’re missing a skill, show you’re eager to learn by mentioning courses you’re taking or plan to take (check out Coursera, Udemy, or edX for affordable options).
21. Failing to proofread
Don’t skip the proofreading. Typos, outdated information, or missing details can make you look sloppy or unprepared. It’s an easy fix, so take the time to get it right.
How to avoid this mistake:
- Go through your resume to make sure everything’s current — remove anything irrelevant or outdated.
- Ask a trusted friend (preferably one in the field) to review your resume and point out anything you might’ve missed or need to emphasize more.
Resume Example
Here’s an example of a resume that avoids common resume mistakes. It’s clear, concise (one page), and optimized for ATS.
Summary
Here’s a recap of the most common resume mistakes and how to fix them:
- Proofread thoroughly by using spell-check, reading aloud, and checking for typos and grammar mistakes.
- Avoid complex designs that may confuse the Applicant Tracking System (ATS). Stick to clear headings, simple fonts, and a single-column format.
- Double-check that your contact details are accurate and your email address is professional.
- Write a specific, results-driven summary or objective tailored to the job instead of vague or generic statements.
- Break up text with 3–8 bullet points per job instead of long paragraphs for better readability.
- Highlight measurable achievements instead of just listing responsibilities, such as “increased sales by 20% in six months.”
- Start bullet points with strong action verbs like “developed” or “led” instead of weak phrases like “responsible for.”
- List only relevant skills that align with the job instead of including everything.
- Customize each resume with keywords from the job description and keep it concise — ideally one page.
- Never lie on a resume, save it as a PDF with a professional file name, and exclude personal details like a photo, age, gender, or social security number.
FAQ
What are some mistakes to avoid when updating a resume?
When updating your resume, don’t just add new jobs — remove irrelevant skills, expired certifications, and outdated software. Also, update your contact details if needed.
What are some common mistakes to avoid when writing a resume for a tech job?
Avoid being vague about your skills. Instead of saying “experienced in Java,” say “developed a mobile app using Java, improving user engagement by 30%.” Always show how you’ve applied your skills in real-world scenarios. Skip the jargon (unless it’s relevant to the role) and tailor your resume to the job and company you’re applying to.
What are the common mistakes to avoid when optimizing a resume for ATS?
Avoid using complex formats, fancy fonts, or images — ATS can’t read those. Don’t include graphs or too many columns. Use simple section titles like “Experience” or “Skills,” and include keywords from the job description so ATS can easily pick up your resume.
Should I add my LinkedIn to my resume?
Yes — add your LinkedIn as a hyperlink in your resume header to make it easier for employers to contact you. Make sure your LinkedIn is up-to-date, matches your resume, and looks professional. Also, customize your LinkedIn URL to your name for a cleaner look.
If you need help, check out our guide on creating a strong LinkedIn profile.
What does a bad resume look like?
A bad resume is messy, filled with typos, and packed with unnecessary details. It lacks measurable achievements and isn’t tailored to the role. It may even include personal details like a photo or social security number. If it’s unclear or doesn’t match the job, it won’t help you.
What are filler words in a resume?
Filler words are vague terms that don’t add value, like “responsible for,” “hardworking,” or “team player.” They don’t describe your skills or impact. Instead, use action-driven language that highlights your real accomplishments and shows the results you’ve achieved.
How to check resume score online for free?
You can check your resume score for free on websites like the Rezi AI Resume Builder. Upload your resume, and it’ll evaluate it across five key areas: content, format, optimization, best practices, and application readiness. It also audits 23 details that hiring managers care about, from minor tweaks to major deal-breakers.
How far back should a resume go?
Your resume should cover the last 10–15 years, focusing on the most relevant experience. For older roles, mention them briefly if they’re highly relevant, you’ve been with the same company for 10+ years, or they help meet job qualifications.
