15 Resume Mistakes That Get You Rejected (And How to Fix Them)
You're qualified for the job. You have the experience. But your resume keeps getting rejected. The problem? One of these common mistakes is killing your chances before a human even sees your application.
Eye-tracking research shows recruiters spend just seconds on initial screening. In that brief window, any of these mistakes can get you instantly rejected. Here's what to avoid — and exactly how to fix each one.
Formatting Mistakes
Using a Fancy or Creative Template
That beautiful two-column template with icons and infographics? ATS systems can't read it. The fancy formatting that looks great in Canva often becomes garbled text when parsed by applicant tracking software.
Use a clean, single-column format with standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Georgia). Save visual creativity for your portfolio, not your resume.
Making It Too Long
Research shows page two receives almost no attention during initial screening. Every line on page two is a line that probably won't be read.
Keep it to one page unless you have 15+ years of directly relevant experience. Cut ruthlessly. If it doesn't prove you can do THIS job, remove it.
Walls of Text
Dense paragraphs get skipped entirely. Recruiters scan — they don't read. A block of text signals "too much effort to process" and they move on.
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Inconsistent Formatting
Different fonts, inconsistent date formats, varying bullet styles — these signal carelessness. If you can't format a resume properly, why would they trust you with actual work?
Pick one format and stick to it religiously. Same font throughout. Same date format (Jan 2023 or 01/2023, not both). Same bullet style. Same spacing.
Burying Key Information
Recruiters follow an F-pattern when scanning: across the top, then down the left side. If your most impressive qualifications are in the bottom-right, they'll never be seen.
Put your strongest selling points in the top third. Lead each bullet with the most impressive part. Start lines with action verbs and numbers, not filler words.
See Where Your Resume Gets Attention
Our heat map tool shows exactly which parts of YOUR resume recruiters will see — and which parts they'll skip.
Join Waitlist →Content Mistakes
Listing Duties Instead of Achievements
"Responsible for managing social media" tells them nothing. Everyone in that role was responsible for the same thing. What makes YOU different?
No Quantified Results
Numbers stop the scanning eye. Without them, your achievements sound like everyone else's. "Improved efficiency" is forgettable. "Reduced processing time by 40%" is memorable.
Add numbers to at least 50% of your bullets: percentages, dollar amounts, team sizes, time saved, customers served, projects completed. No number is too small if it proves impact.
Generic Objective Statement
"Seeking a challenging position where I can utilize my skills and grow professionally." This tells recruiters absolutely nothing and wastes prime real estate at the top of your resume.
Either skip it entirely, or replace with a punchy professional summary: "Senior Product Manager with 8 years in B2B SaaS. Led teams that shipped 3 products generating $15M ARR."
Spelling and Grammar Errors
One typo can end your candidacy. It signals carelessness, and recruiters wonder: if you didn't proofread your resume, how careful will you be with actual work?
Read it backwards to catch errors. Use Grammarly. Have someone else proofread. Read it out loud. Then proofread again.
Buzzword Overload
"Synergistic thought leader driving paradigm shifts through innovative solutioneering" — recruiters see right through this. Buzzwords without substance signal that you have nothing real to say.
Strategy Mistakes
Not Tailoring to the Job
Sending the same resume to every job is like wearing the same outfit to a beach party and a board meeting. It shows you didn't care enough to customize.
For each application: mirror keywords from the job posting, reorder bullets to highlight relevant experience first, and adjust your headline to match the target role.
Missing Keywords for ATS
Before a human sees your resume, it passes through ATS software that scans for specific keywords. If you're missing them, you're filtered out automatically.
Read the job posting carefully. Include exact phrases they use: if they say "project management," don't just say "managed projects." Use their terminology.
Including Irrelevant Information
Your high school job at Dairy Queen doesn't belong on your senior engineer resume. Every line should prove you can do the job you're applying for.
For each item, ask: "Does this prove I can do THIS job?" If not, cut it. Focus on relevant experience from the last 10-15 years.
Unexplained Employment Gaps
Gaps aren't always deal-breakers, but mysterious gaps raise red flags. Recruiters will wonder what you're hiding, and uncertainty leads to rejection.
Address gaps briefly in your resume or cover letter. "Career break for family care (2022)" or "Sabbatical for professional development" is fine. Honesty beats suspicion.
Wrong or Missing Contact Info
It sounds obvious, but recruiters see it constantly: typos in email addresses, disconnected phone numbers, or no contact info at all. If they can't reach you, they move on.
Double-check every character in your contact info. Include: professional email, phone number, LinkedIn URL, and city/state (or "Remote" if applicable).
The Bottom Line
Most resume mistakes come down to one thing: forgetting that recruiters are humans with limited time. They're not reading — they're scanning for reasons to say yes or no.
Your job is to make "yes" easy:
- Clean format that invites scanning
- Quantified achievements that prove impact
- Relevant keywords that pass ATS filters
- Strategic placement of your best material
- Zero errors that signal carelessness
Fix these mistakes, and you'll make it past the initial screen. That's when your real qualifications can finally speak for themselves.
Sources: ResumeHeatMap Eye-Tracking Research • LinkedIn Recruiter Surveys • SHRM Hiring Research