Recruiters often scan a resume for six to ten seconds before deciding whether to read further. That means small mistakes can cost you an interview before a human even properly reads your experience. Here are the seven that come up most often.
1. An Unprofessional Email Address
"coolguy123@..." doesn't inspire confidence. Use a simple email based on your name — it takes two minutes to create a new one if needed.
2. Spelling and Grammar Errors
A resume riddled with typos signals carelessness. Read it out loud, and have someone else check it before you send it out.
3. No Tailoring to the Job
Sending the exact same resume to every job, without adjusting keywords to match the job description, makes it harder for recruiters — and applicant tracking systems — to see the fit.
4. Walls of Text with No Formatting
Dense paragraphs are hard to scan. Use bullet points, clear section headers, and white space so the key information jumps out.
5. Irrelevant Personal Information
Details like marital status, religion, or a photo are usually unnecessary unless specifically requested — they take up space that could go to your skills and achievements.
6. Exaggerating or Fabricating Experience
Overstating your role, skills, or responsibilities is a risk that catches up with you in the interview or on the job. Be accurate — you can always describe achievements confidently without inflating them.
7. Outdated or Incorrect Contact Information
A resume that reaches an old phone number or a broken LinkedIn link is a missed opportunity that's completely avoidable. Double-check every contact detail before sending.