Your resume is often your only shot at a first impression. A recruiter may spend only a short time scanning it, so a few avoidable errors can push an otherwise strong application to the "no" pile.
The good news is that most of these mistakes are easy to fix. Here are ten of the most common ones, with practical ways to correct them.
1. Typos and grammar errors
Spelling mistakes suggest carelessness, especially for roles that value attention to detail. They're also the easiest problem to prevent.
Fix: Proofread slowly, read it aloud, and ask someone else to review it. Check names, company names, and dates in particular.
2. A generic, one-size-fits-all resume
Sending the same resume to every job usually means it speaks to no job in particular. Employers want to see that you match their needs.
Fix: Tailor the summary, skills, and top bullets to each posting. Our guide on tailoring your resume for a specific job walks through it.
3. Duties instead of achievements
"Responsible for managing social media accounts" describes the job, not what you accomplished in it.
Fix: Show results. Compare: "Grew follower engagement on company accounts by 30% through a weekly content calendar." Use real numbers where you honestly can, and focus on outcomes, not tasks. The free resume bullet improver can strengthen a weak line.
4. Too long or too dense
Walls of text are hard to scan. Long resumes bury your best material.
Fix: For most people, one page is enough, and two pages is the usual maximum for experienced professionals. Cut older or irrelevant roles, and keep bullets short.
5. Missing keywords
Many employers use applicant tracking systems that look for terms from the job description. If your resume doesn't use similar language, it may be filtered out before a person sees it.
Fix: Mirror relevant words from the posting where they honestly apply. See our resume keywords guide and check your match with the free ATS checker.
6. Fancy formatting that breaks parsing
Multiple columns, text boxes, graphics, icons, and unusual fonts can confuse both software and human readers.
Fix: Use a clean, single-column layout with standard section headings like "Experience" and "Education." Our ATS resume tips explain what to look out for.
7. An unfocused or clichéd summary
Phrases like "hard-working team player seeking a challenging role" take up valuable space and say nothing.
Fix: Write a short, specific summary tied to the job, or skip it. Our post on resume summary examples shows how.
8. Unprofessional contact details
An old, quirky email address, a missing phone number, or a broken LinkedIn link can undercut your application.
Fix: Use a simple, professional email, double-check your phone number, and make sure any links work. Update your profile too, and see our LinkedIn headline examples if yours needs a refresh.
9. Inconsistencies and gaps left unexplained
Mismatched dates, inconsistent formatting, or unexplained long gaps raise questions.
Fix: Keep dates, fonts, and bullet styles consistent. If there's a significant gap, address it briefly and honestly. We cover how in explaining an employment gap.
10. Exaggeration or untrue claims
Inflated titles, invented results, or skills you don't have may be caught during interviews or background checks, and can cost you the job even after an offer.
Fix: Be accurate. If you're proud of something, there's almost always an honest way to present it well.
A quick final checklist
Before you hit send:
- Tailored to this specific job
- Achievements with results, not just duties
- Keywords from the posting included naturally
- Clean, single-column format
- No typos, and consistent dates and styling
- Contact details and links checked
- Saved as a PDF (unless the application asks otherwise)
Get a second opinion
It's hard to see your own resume's weaknesses. A fresh pair of eyes helps. Corvyx's Resume Roast offers opt-in, anonymized peer feedback, so you can get honest input without your personal details being shown. And when you're ready to rebuild, the AI resume builder can help you restructure your content.
Summary
- Most rejections come from fixable issues: typos, generic content, missing keywords, and messy formatting.
- Show achievements and results, not just responsibilities.
- Keep it clean, concise, and honest.
- Tailor each application and get someone else to review it.
Fix these ten, and your resume will already stand ahead of many others in the pile.