You're qualified. You've got the experience. You've applied to dozens of jobs.
Radio silence.
Here's what nobody tells you: Most resumes get rejected before a human ever sees them. And even the ones that make it through are scanned for about 6 seconds before a decision is made.
of resumes rejected by ATS
Before any human ever reviews them—due to formatting, keywords, or structure
Source: Jobscan, 2024
The good news? Resume mistakes are fixable. Let's walk through the 15 most common ones—and exactly how to avoid them.
TL;DR
- ATS rejects 75% of resumes before humans see them
- Tailoring to each job is non-negotiable
- Typos = instant rejection for 80% of recruiters
- One page is enough for most people
- Use our Keyword Scanner to check ATS compatibility
❌ Mistake 1: Using One Resume for Every Application
This is the #1 killer. Recruiters can tell. ATS systems definitely know.
The Generic Approach
"Experienced marketing professional seeking challenging opportunity to utilize skills and grow professionally."
This describes 10 million people. It matches no specific job.
The fix: Customize your resume for each role. Match keywords from the job description. Adjust your summary to reflect what they need.
Quick Tailoring Hack
Copy the job description into our Keyword Scanner. It shows exactly which keywords you're missing and where to add them.
❌ Mistake 2: Failing the ATS
of Fortune 500 companies use ATS
Your resume is being read by a robot before any human sees it
Source: Jobscan, 2024
ATS systems scan your resume for keywords, structure, and formatting. If your resume breaks parsing rules, it gets filtered out—no matter how qualified you are.
Common ATS failures:
- Tables, columns, graphics
- Headers and footers (dates get stuck there)
- Unusual fonts or icons
- PDF with non-extractable text
- Missing standard section headers
The fix: Use a clean, single-column template. Standard section headers (Experience, Education, Skills). Test your resume with an ATS checker before applying.
❌ Mistake 3: Listing Duties Instead of Achievements
Recruiters don't want to know what you were supposed to do. They want to know what you actually accomplished.
| Duty (Weak) ❌ | Achievement (Strong) ✅ |
|---|---|
| Responsible for marketing campaigns | Increased conversion rates by 47% through targeted email campaigns reaching 50K subscribers |
| Managed customer accounts | Retained 95% of $2M client portfolio while upselling 23% additional services |
| Wrote code for backend systems | Reduced API latency by 40% (200ms → 120ms), handling 10M+ daily requests |
| Supervised team members | Led team of 12, improving productivity by 30% while reducing turnover from 25% to 8% |
The fix: Start every bullet with a strong action verb. Add a number. Show impact, not activity.
❌ Mistake 4: Typos and Grammar Errors
It shouldn't matter. But it does—a lot.
of recruiters reject resumes with typos
Even one spelling error can signal carelessness
Source: ResumeBuilder Survey, 2024
The fix:
- Run spell check (obvious)
- Read your resume out loud
- Have someone else proofread it
- Check industry-specific terminology ("venipuncture" not "venapunkture")
❌ Mistake 5: Wrong Resume Length
Too long: Recruiters spend 6-7 seconds scanning. They won't read 3 pages.
Too short: Under 400 words looks thin and raises questions.
The Right Length
- 1 page: Under 10 years of experience (most people)
- 2 pages: 10+ years with substantial, relevant experience
- Never: More than 2 pages (exception: academic CVs, federal resumes)
❌ Mistake 6: Weak or Missing Summary
Your summary is the first thing recruiters read. If it's generic or absent, you've lost your hook.
Weak Summary
"Hardworking professional with excellent communication skills seeking a challenging opportunity."
Strong Summary
"Senior Product Manager with 6+ years at B2B SaaS companies. Led launches generating $15M ARR. Expert in user research, roadmapping, and cross-functional leadership. Seeking PM Director role."
The fix: 3-4 sentences. Include your title, experience, top achievement, and what you're looking for. Use our Resume Summary Generator for instant, tailored summaries.
❌ Mistake 7: Unprofessional Email Address
CoolGuy88@hotmail.com tells recruiters you haven't updated your approach since 2008.
The fix: firstname.lastname@gmail.com. Simple. Professional. Free.
❌ Mistake 8: Including Irrelevant Information
That summer lifeguard job from 2012 isn't helping your data science application.
What to remove:
- Jobs from 15+ years ago (unless directly relevant)
- High school information (if you have a college degree)
- Hobbies that don't add value
- "References available upon request" (assumed; wastes space)
- Full street address (city/state is enough)
❌ Mistake 9: Poor Formatting and Design
Clean & Effective ✅
- Single-column layout
- Standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Garamond)
- Consistent spacing and alignment
- Clear section headers
- White space for readability
Messy & Risky ❌
- Multiple columns (ATS issues)
- Decorative fonts or icons
- Walls of text without bullets
- Clashing colors or backgrounds
- Photos (in US market)
❌ Mistake 10: Missing Contact Information
You'd be surprised how often critical info is missing or wrong.
Contact Info Checklist
- Full name (with credentials if applicable)
- Phone number (verified it's correct)
- Professional email address
- City and state (no full address needed)
- LinkedIn URL (custom, not the random character string)
- GitHub/Portfolio (if relevant to role)
❌ Mistake 11: Keyword Stuffing
Trying to game ATS with invisible text or keyword spam backfires. Modern systems detect this—and so do recruiters.
The fix: Incorporate keywords naturally within your experience bullets and skills section. Don't just dump them.
❌ Mistake 12: Using "Responsible for" Bullets
This phrase is weak, passive, and overused. It tells recruiters what your job description said—not what you did.
| Passive ❌ | Active ✅ |
|---|---|
| Responsible for managing budgets | Managed $2.5M annual budget with 5% positive variance |
| Responsible for customer service | Resolved 95% of escalations within 24 hours, achieving 4.8/5 satisfaction |
| Responsible for project delivery | Delivered 12 projects on time and under budget over 18 months |
❌ Mistake 13: Gaps Without Explanation
Employment gaps aren't dealbreakers—but unexplained gaps raise questions.
The fix: Brief, professional explanations:
- "Career break for family caregiving"
- "Sabbatical for professional development and certification"
- "Relocated and job searched"
Or include relevant activities during the gap: freelance work, volunteering, coursework.
❌ Mistake 14: Lying or Exaggerating
This Gets You Fired
Background checks catch lies. References verify claims. Interviewers probe details.
Exaggerating a job title, inflating metrics, or claiming degrees you don't have will end your candidacy—or your job, if discovered later.
❌ Mistake 15: Forgetting the File Name
Resume_Final_v3_UPDATED.docx looks sloppy.
The fix: FirstName_LastName_Resume.pdf
Always PDF unless specifically asked for Word. And always proofread the final version—not a draft.
The Pre-Submit Checklist
Before you apply, verify:
Final Resume Audit
- Tailored to this specific job (keywords included)
- Every bullet has a number or measurable outcome
- No typos or grammar errors
- One page (or two if 10+ years experience)
- Professional email and correct phone number
- File saved as PDF with professional name
- Summary is specific, not generic
- ATS-friendly format (single column, standard fonts)
Fix Your Resume Now
You're making at least one of these mistakes. Almost everyone is.
The difference between getting interviews and getting ignored often comes down to these fixable issues. Stop sending the same broken resume into the void.
Get Your Resume Right
Our AI-powered builder catches these mistakes automatically—so you can focus on landing interviews.
Fix My ResumeRelated Resources
- Keyword Scanner Tool — Check your ATS keyword match
- Resume Summary Generator — Write strong summaries instantly
- Resume Bullet Points — How to write achievement-focused content
- Power Words for Resume — Replace weak verbs with strong ones
- Browse Templates — All ATS-optimized and recruiter-tested
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common resume mistake?
Not tailoring your resume to the job. Sending the same generic resume to every application is the #1 reason for rejection—both by ATS systems and human recruiters.
What percentage of resumes get rejected by ATS?
Approximately 75% of resumes are rejected by ATS before a human ever reviews them, typically due to formatting issues, missing keywords, or structural problems.
Does a typo on my resume matter?
Yes—80% of recruiters say they'll reject a resume with typos or grammatical errors. It signals carelessness and lack of attention to detail.
How long should my resume be in 2026?
One page for most candidates with under 10 years of experience. Two pages only if you have substantial, relevant experience. Never exceed two pages.
Should I use a creative resume template?
For most industries, no. Creative layouts often break ATS parsing. Use clean, single-column templates unless you're in design/creative fields and applying directly to a hiring manager.
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