Your resume is like your first date outfit – you only get one chance to make a killer impression. Mess it up, and you probably won’t get that callback.
With so much riding on your resume, it’s critical to avoid easily preventable mistakes that secretly sink your chances with recruiters.
This comprehensive guide covers the 18 most common resume blunders that recruiters constantly see – and want to unsee.
Arm yourself with awareness of these cringe-worthy pitfalls before crafting your resume. Then showcase your A+ qualifications mistake-free!
Here are the top mistakes that make recruiters mutter “yikes!” and hit delete:
Formatting Fiascos
Like showing up drunk on a first date, sloppy resume formatting makes a terrible first impression on recruiters.
Resume Mistake 1: Using an Unprofessional Email Address
Your email address offers a sneak peek at your professionalism – or lack thereof.
Play it safe by including your full name and numbers if needed, like MichaelCarter52@gmail.com.
Steer clear of:
- Nicknames: SexyMike@email.com
- Girly123@email.com
- BeerPongLegend@email.com
- Anything overly personal, cute, or quirky
A survey found 76% of HR managers will disqualify candidates with unprofessional emails. Don’t let an overly cute or quirky email undercut your career.
“Using a professional email address is Resume 101. It baffles me how many sensible candidates make this obvious mistake.”
- Heather B., Recruiter
Resume Mistake 2: Inconsistent Formatting
Pick a format – any format – just be consistent! Formatting chaos distracts hiring managers from your qualifications.
✅ Use consistent date formats, section ordering, indentations, bullet points, and font styles throughout.
❌ Mix and match different formats randomly.
“Inconsistent formatting makes a resume painful to scan. Did they even look at it before applying?”
- Lee D., Engineering Manager
Resume Mistake 3: Using Hard-to-Read Fonts
Stick to standard, readable fonts to avoid accidentally introducing a puzzle game into your resume:
Do:
- Arial
- Calibri
- Cambria
- Georgia
- Tahoma
- Times New Roman
- Verdana
Font size between 11-12pt is optimal for readability.
Don’t:
- Comic Sans
- Papyrus
- Curlz MT (seriously?)
- Any elaborate script/handwritten fonts
Resume Mistake 4: Not Using Bullet Points
Without bullet points, dense paragraphs of text blur into a wall of words.
Bullet points neatly organize key info into readable snippets. Use them to list:
- Work history and responsibilities
- Skills and qualifications
- Education
- Achievements and accomplishments
“I skim for bullet points first to understand candidates’ experience before diving into details.”
- Alicia S., Recruiter
Resume Mistake 5: Visually Too Busy
Avoid resume design mistakes like multicolored fonts, shading, and boxes. Let your qualifications shine, not flashy form over function.
“Visually noisy resumes hide candidates’ credentials behind design distortions.”
- Daniel H., IT Manager
Visually optimize your resume for easy 6-second scanning:
Do:
✅ Use simple, common fonts
✅ Include white space through margins and line breaks
✅ Use just a touch of bolding or italics for emphasis
✅ Remove unnecessary pics or graphics
Don’t:
❌ Use multiple conflicting fonts/formats
❌ Cram everything together
❌ Add irrelevant visuals
❌ Use strange colors or shading
Content Flubs
Even perfectly formatted resumes can flop if the content misses the mark.
Resume Mistake 6: Failing to Customize for Each Job
Generic resumes that worked 5 years ago (maybe) just don’t cut it anymore.
Tailor each resume to align your background with the job like a personalized match.com profile.
Research the company and role. Work their keywords seamlessly into your resume to pass ATS scans.
Customizing shows:
- You care enough about this specific role to tailor your application
- You have the necessary experience that the job requires
Win-win! Don’t be lazy – put in time customizing.
Pro Tip: Create a resume master template you tailor for each job vs. starting 100% from scratch each time. Add and adjust the content, but the formatting stays consistent.
Resume Mistake 7: Including Irrelevant Information
Do employers care that you can make a mean margarita or a triple-cheese thin-crust pizza? Nope!
Cut irrelevant content that wastes precious resume real estate. Unless directly relevant, exclude:
- Random old jobs
- Dated or irrelevant skills
- Too-personal interests and hobbies
Use every bullet point intentionally to sell your value.
“I once saw a resume with entire sections about gardening awards and pet ownership. We’re hiring a VP of Marketing here!”
- Melanie G., CEO
Resume Mistake 8: Duties Over Achievements
Of course, hiring managers want to know your background. But they care far more about what you achieved at each stop along the way.
Swap:
❌ Managed a team of 5 sales associates responsible for selling products and services to corporate clients.
For:
✅ Managed a team of 5 sales associates, exceeding annual targets by 25% in 2020 and 19% in 2021.
Show how you made a difference, not just a list of old duties. Sprinkle proof like numbers, data, examples, and results.
Resume Mistake 9: Using Weak Action Verbs
Skip wishy-washy action verbs that fail to convey your true talents. Punch up your bullet points with powerful verbs:
Strong Action Verbs
- Accelerated
- Capitalized
- Transformed
- Pioneered
- Spearheaded
- Revolutionized
Weak Action Verbs
- Worked on
- Helped with
- Tried to
- Attempted
- Sort of
Just don’t go verb crazy.
Resume Mistake 10: Excessive Wordiness
Don’t bore recruiters by rambling on like your chatty Uncle Joe. Trim! Refine! Delete!
Turn wordy resume clutter like this:
I was responsible for collaborating cross-functionally with colleagues from other departments within the organization and communicating regularly with vendors and external partners to ensure optimal outcomes.
Into tight writing like this:
- Collaborated cross-functionally to drive optimal outcomes.
- Communicated regularly with vendors and partners.
Write concisely to captivate readers, not make their eyes glaze over.
Grammar Slip-Ups
Typos and poor grammar can tank impressive credentials faster than you can say “I never got my high school diploma.”
Resume Mistake 11: Not Proofreading
You tweak your dating profile relentlessly to look hot. Put the same care into perfecting your resume!
Proofread, edit, and rework it obsessively before submitting it.
Pro Tip: Read your resume backwards to catch typos your eyes may autocorrect otherwise.
Resume Mistake 12: Poor Grammar and Punctuation
Know the difference between “to”, “too” and “two”? Basic grammar and punctuation rules that vex many of us.
If grammar isn’t your jam, have other detail-oriented friends proofread or invest in professional editing services.
Pro Tip: Read your resume aloud. Awkward phrasing often sounds wrong even if correct.
“Grammatical errors are an automatic dealbreaker for me. If you can’t construct proper sentences, how can you handle the job?”
- Mark R., Accounting Manager
Resume Mistake 13: Overdoing Formatting for Emphasis
Subtle formatting adds visual interest to key details. But go overboard, and you hit crazy town.
❌ Too Much Emphasis
Key Achievements
✅ Just Right Emphasis
Key Achievements
Use bolding and italics sparingly. Avoid ALL CAPS, underlining and oversized font.
“I saw one resume written all in neon comic sans and different colors. My eyes almost fell out.”
- Sam W., Recruiter
Resume Mistake 14: Spelling Gaffes
Spellcheck won’t catch words spelled correctly, but incorrectly used:
- Their responsible for revenue goals.
- She lead the project flawlessly.
- Your hired!
Double-check proper usage of soundalike words that trip people up like:
- There vs. their vs. they’re
- Lead vs. led
- You’re vs. your
Also verify the company, job title, school, and other proper name spellings.
Other Common Mistakes
Nearly there! Here are the remaining resume mistakes that turn off recruiters.
Resume Mistake 15: Lying and Exaggerating
A resume reader can spot slight exaggerations a mile away:
- “Increased sales 300%” (Really? From $1 to $3?)
- “Fluent in 5 programming languages” (Doubtful…)
Big outright lies are even more obvious:
- Fake degrees or credentials
- Completely fake job titles and employers
- Skills and achievements you don’t actually possess
Never lie! Focus on highlighting actual skills and credentials. You’ll only get caught in lies later and ruin your credibility.
Resume Mistake 16: Large Unexplained Gaps
Periods of unemployment or switching directions aren’t dealbreakers – if presented positively.
Explain resume gaps gracefully:
- Additional education and training
- Career improvement sabbatical
- Parental leave
- Health reasons
- Relocation
“We’re often willing to overlook gaps if the candidate is open about it and the explanation makes sense.”
- Jim C., HR Director
Resume Mistake 17: Outdated Contact Information
This 5-second double-check can make or break whether you hear back:
- Is your phone number current? Test that it works.
- Does your home address match your location?
- Is your email address professional?
Outdated info suggests you’re unresponsive or not that interested in opportunities.
Resume Mistake 18: Submitting the Wrong Resume Version
Between drafts and tailored versions, it’s easy to mistakenly send the wrong file.
Double check you attached the correct customized resume and cover letter – not an outdated draft or generic template.
Imagine if you sent an old love note meant for your ex! Verify you’re sending the right stuff.
Resume Perfection = More Interviews
Now that you know the most common pitfalls, you can finesse your resume to perfection and wow recruiters.
Dodging even one of these mistakes improves your chances. Avoid all 18, and you’ll be in amazing shape!
For extra assurance, get an unbiased review of your resume from a trusted friend or professional resume writer.
Follow these guidelines, and you can sleep easy knowing your resume loudly says “Hire me now!” versus “Hard pass.”
Here’s a high-level overview of the resume mistakes to steer clear of:
| Formatting | Content | Grammar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| ❌ Unprofessional email | ❌ Not customized | ❌ Typos/errors | ❌ Lies or exaggerations |
| ❌ Inconsistent formatting | ❌ Irrelevant info | ❌ Poor grammar/punctuation | ❌ Gaps without explanation |
| ❌ Hard-to-read fonts | ❌ Duties over achievements | ❌ Overdoing formatting for emphasis | ❌ Outdated contact info |
| ❌ No bullet points | ❌ Weak verbs | ❌ Spelling mistakes | ❌ Wrong version submitted |
| ❌ Visually too busy | ❌ Excess wordiness |
FAQ About Resume Mistakes
Still stressing about mistakes derailing your resume? Here are answers to frequent questions:
Which resume mistakes worry recruiters the most?
According to recruiters, the most cringe-worthy resume mistakes are:
- Spelling errors – 91% said it makes candidates seem careless
- Overused cliché phrases – 88% said it suggests laziness
- Typos – 85% said it shows a lack of attention to detail
- Grammar errors – 83% said it signals poor communication skills
- Unprofessional email address – 76% said they won’t contact the candidate
So triple-check for errors, stale clichés, and typos above all else!
How many mistakes until your resume is thrown out?
85% of recruiters will reject a resume with just 2-3 small mistakes.
One glaring error like lying or an inappropriate email could single-handedly kill your chances.
Aim for ZERO defects. Carefully self-audit and enlist others to review your resume too.
Can you lie a little bit on your resume?
NO! Any exaggerations or untruths, big or small, are unethical and very risky.
Even tiny lies like fudging dates can unravel quickly and destroy your credibility.
Be 100% truthful from day one, and you’ll never have to worry later down the line.
What if I’m not a great writer – should I have someone review my resume?
YES! If writing and editing are not your superpowers, enlist help to avoid making grammar, spelling, and wording mistakes.
Don’t let easily fixed writing errors torpedo your resume.
Conclusion
By mastering these resume do’s and don’ts, you can create a resume that makes hiring managers excited to meet you. Bring your A-game, dodge mistakes, and highlight fantastic achievements tailored to each role. You’ve got this!
I know this list might have you concerned about the intricacies of crafting the perfect resume. Don’t worry– Resume Fixer Upper can help you build the perfect resume so that you can land your dream job. Email us and we can have you ready in no time- sales@resumefixerupper.com