15 common resume mistakes to avoid

Recruiters spend seconds per resume, so small mistakes cost you. Here are the most common ones — and the quick fix for each.

1. Typos and grammar errors

A single typo signals carelessness. Fix: proofread aloud, run a spell-check, and have one other person read it.

"Responsible for managing X" describes the job, not your impact. Fix: lead with a strong verb and a result — "Cut onboarding time 40%."

Vague claims don't land. Fix: quantify with %, $, counts, or timeframes wherever you can.

Two pages for a junior role, or cramming 15 years onto one line. Fix: one page for most; two only with 10+ years (details).

The same resume for every job underperforms. Fix: mirror each posting's language; check your keyword match.

Tables, columns, text boxes, and graphics confuse parsers. Fix: single-column, standard headings, real text (guide).

"Hard-working professional seeking growth" says nothing. Fix: 2–3 specific lines (examples).

Objectives are dated and about you, not the employer. Fix: replace with a value-focused summary, or drop it.

High-school jobs or 15-year-old roles crowd out what matters. Fix: keep the last ~10–15 years and what's relevant.

partyguy2009@… or a dead portfolio link. Fix: use firstname.lastname@…, and test every link.

Mixed fonts, date formats, and bullet styles look sloppy. Fix: one font, one date format, consistent spacing — a builder enforces this for you.

Dense paragraphs don't get read. Fix: short bullets, plenty of white space.

"Synergistic self-starter, results-driven team player." Fix: show those traits with concrete examples instead.

It wastes space and is assumed. Fix: remove it; provide references when asked.

Inflated titles or skills surface in interviews and reference checks. Fix: be accurate; frame real experience well.

Avoid most of these at once: build it in the free resume builder (clean, consistent, one-page, ATS-friendly format), then check it against the job description.