5 Resume Mistakes That Get You Rejected

Your resume gets only 7 seconds of attention from hiring managers. One mistake can cost you the job.

After reviewing thousands of resumes, I've identified the 5 most common mistakes that lead to instant rejections. The good news? They're all easy to fix.

1. Ignoring ATS Systems ❌

The Problem: Most companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter resumes before they even reach human eyes. These systems scan for keywords, formatting, and structure. Complex designs, graphics, and non-standard formatting often get rejected.

The Impact:

• 75% of resumes are rejected by ATS before a human sees them
• Fancy designs with images, columns, and creative layouts confuse ATS systems
• Using non-standard section headers (e.g., "Professional Journey" instead of "Work Experience") causes ATS to miss important information

The Fix:

• Use simple, clean formatting with standard section headers
• Include relevant keywords from the job description
• Use standard fonts (Arial, Times New Roman, Calibri)
• Avoid tables, images, and complex layouts
• Save as a .docx or .pdf file with proper structure

Example:

❌ Bad: Creative resume with graphics, icons, and multiple columns
✅ Good: Clean, simple resume with standard sections and keywords

2. Vague, Generic Bullet Points ❌

The Problem: Bullet points that don't show impact or results waste precious space. Hiring managers want to see what you accomplished, not just what you were responsible for.

The Impact:

• Generic descriptions don't differentiate you from other candidates
• They don't show your value or impact
• They make it harder for ATS to match you to job requirements

The Fix:

• Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result)
• Focus on quantifiable results (percentages, dollar amounts, timeframes)
• Start with action verbs (Led, Developed, Improved, Increased, Reduced)
• Include specific metrics whenever possible

Examples:

❌ Bad Bullet Points:

• "Responsible for sales"
• "Helped with marketing"
• "Managed team"
• "Improved customer satisfaction"

✅ Good Bullet Points:

• "Increased sales by 30% in Q2 2024 through targeted outreach campaigns"
• "Developed and executed marketing strategy that generated $500K in new revenue"
• "Led a team of 5 developers to deliver 3 major features ahead of schedule"
• "Improved customer satisfaction scores from 3.2 to 4.7 (out of 5) by streamlining support processes"

Quick Tip: If you can't quantify it, try to describe the impact in other ways:

• "Reduced processing time by implementing automated workflows"
• "Streamlined onboarding process, cutting new hire training from 2 weeks to 3 days"

3. One-Size-Fits-All Resume ❌

The Problem: Using the same resume for every job application is a mistake. Different roles require different skills, experiences, and keywords.

The Impact:

• Your resume doesn't highlight what's most relevant to each role
• You miss important keywords that ATS systems are looking for
• Hiring managers don't see why you're a good fit for their specific role

The Fix:

• Customize your resume for each job application
• Reorganize sections to highlight most relevant experience first
• Update your summary to match the job description
• Include keywords from the job posting (especially in skills and experience sections)
• Reorder bullet points to put most relevant accomplishments first

Pro Tip: Create a "master resume" with all your experience, then create tailored versions for each application by:

1. Reading the job description carefully
2. Identifying key skills and requirements
3. Highlighting matching experiences
4. Reordering sections to prioritize relevance

4. Typos and Grammar Errors ❌

The Problem: Typos and grammar mistakes signal carelessness and lack of attention to detail. They're one of the fastest ways to get your resume rejected.

The Impact:

• 59% of recruiters will reject a resume with typos
• Errors undermine your credibility
• They suggest you don't take the application seriously

The Fix:

• Proofread multiple times (read it backwards to catch spelling errors)
• Use spell check, but don't rely on it alone
• Read it out loud to catch grammar issues
• Ask someone else to review it (fresh eyes catch mistakes you miss)
• Check for consistency (verb tenses, date formats, capitalization)

Common Mistakes to Watch For:

• Their vs. There vs. They're
• Your vs. You're
• It's vs. Its
• Effect vs. Affect
• Inconsistent verb tenses (switching between past and present)
• Capitalization inconsistencies (e.g., "Manager" vs. "manager")

5. Outdated Information ❌

The Problem: Including irrelevant, outdated information wastes space and makes your resume less focused. Hiring managers want to see recent, relevant experience.

The Impact:

• Takes up valuable space that could highlight relevant experience
• Makes your resume longer than necessary (ideally 1-2 pages)
• Dates you and suggests you haven't been active recently
• Makes it harder to see what's actually relevant

The Fix:

• Focus on the last 10-15 years of experience (unless earlier experience is highly relevant)
• Remove outdated skills (e.g., outdated software, old technologies)
• Remove irrelevant experience (e.g., high school jobs for senior roles)
• Update your education section (don't need graduation year for older professionals)
• Remove "References available upon request" (it's assumed)

What to Keep:

• Recent experience (last 10-15 years)
• Relevant skills for the target role
• Education (but you can remove dates if you've been working 10+ years)
• Relevant certifications
• Recent accomplishments

What to Remove:

• Jobs from 15+ years ago (unless highly relevant)
• Outdated technologies or skills
• High school achievements (for experienced professionals)
• Personal information (age, marital status, photos in most regions)
• "Objective" statements (use a "Summary" or "Profile" instead)

Quick Action Checklist ✅

Before you submit your next resume, make sure you've:

• [ ] Used simple, ATS-friendly formatting
• [ ] Included keywords from the job description
• [ ] Rewritten bullet points with specific metrics and results
• [ ] Customized the resume for this specific role
• [ ] Proofread for typos and grammar errors
• [ ] Removed outdated or irrelevant information
• [ ] Kept it to 1-2 pages (unless you're in academia or have 20+ years of highly relevant experience)

Need Help?

Creating an ATS-optimized, results-driven resume takes time and expertise. If you're struggling with any of these areas, RezCraft can help:

• AI-powered suggestions to improve your resume content
• ATS-optimized templates that pass applicant tracking systems
• Real-time preview to see how your resume looks
• Professional formatting that stands out while staying ATS-friendly

Start building your perfect resume today - it's free, no credit card required.

About the Author: The RezCraft team has helped thousands of job seekers create resumes that get noticed. Our AI-powered platform combines best practices with cutting-edge technology to help you land your dream job.