Common Resume Mistakes That Can Sabotage Your Job Search in 2025
Introduction: What Resume Mistakes Are Costing You Interviews?
Many job seekers spend hours perfecting their applications, yet simple resumes mistakes often cost them the chance to even get an interview. From formatting issues to overlooked typos, these resume errors send the wrong message to recruiters and hiring managers. The truth is, when wondering “how do resume mistakes affect hiring?” the answer is clear: they create a negative first impression and suggest a lack of attention to detail. Candidates often ask, “do employers notice resume mistakes?” — the reality is yes, and more often than not. In fact, for many recruiters, are resume mistakes a dealbreaker? Absolutely. Even highly qualified professionals can be overlooked if their resumes contain preventable errors.
Despite all the advantages of the digital age, a well-written traditional, old-fashioned resume is a must if you want to get an interview. Therefore, your resume should be written according to resume writing standards and rules, and be at least ‘good' so you could be considered for an interview. Many hiring managers, though, admit getting loads of resumes which contain mistakes that eliminate them from consideration.
So here's #1 resume rule: no matter how good you are at your job; if you can't compose a resume without rough mistakes, you won't get an interview. The competition is fierce and those with poorly written resumes lose in the very beginning. So, study these common resume mistakes to avoid – and if your resume has at least one of them, correct it immediately.
Most Common Resume Mistakes to Avoid in 2025
- Typos/grammar mistakes. The researches show that it's a problem for over 50% of resumes. Among the biggest resume mistakes, typos have the first place! To make sure your resume is flawless, it's a good idea to have someone to proofread it for you – or hire a professional resume editor.
- Too long/too short. Resume length has been a subject of discussions for years. The golden rule is to keep your resume no shorter than one full page and no longer than 2 pages (or, 1 page for 10 years of experience). Resume content mistakes are also part of this discussion.
- Formatting issues. Countless tables, graphs, excess of colors and plain text are two resume formatting errors to avoid. Keep the resume simple but well-structured: white paper with black font (at least 10 pt), consistent spacing, and your name on every page – this is a must.
- Curly fonts. It's understandable that you want to stand out by no means. However, using non-traditional fonts which are hard to read often makes the opposite effect.
- Private information. Your age, marital status, interests and any other information, not related to the workplace, should be left behind the scenes.
- Outdated information. Your GPA in resume matters only on 5 years after graduation, as well as the irrelevant college jobs. If you're a middle-level or top-level manager, your entry level positions at the beginning of career history are of no interest as well.
- Incorrect information. It sounds obvious, but still, many applicants forget to correct contact information in their resume after they've changed e-mail address or phone number. One single typo can also spoil the whole thing, so be very attentive stating your contact information.
- Sharing confidential information. It's understandable that you want to put confidential data on your resume to show how well you did. However, any self-respecting company will hire such a person as one day he/she might reveal their own trade secrets.
- Condensing your career history onto one page. Some applicant take the advice of making their resumes one page literally and try to squeeze 20 years of career history in one page. The priority is, however, to make the resume readable, and if it has more than 450 words on one page, it is already hard to read.
- Omitting your skills and self-employment. Make sure the resume has a separate skills section or the job descriptions include the personal traits you used to achieve specific results in the company.
- Putting key accomplishments at the end of job description. Your major skills and achievements should go first in the list of each list of responsibilities/duties. What is the use of writing about your effectiveness if it doesn't get noticed?
- Skipping months in employment history. It's common to give a month and year for the beginning and ending of employment. If you only specify years, the hiring manager may suspect something, i.e. that you are hiding employment gaps.
- Objective statement. Instead of saying what you are seeking, start the resume with what you have to offer, i.e. transform the objective into a career summary than would make an impact on the reader.
- Plain text instead of bullets. Resume must be easy to look through. Bullet points make this task easier. Plain text and long paragraphs can turn even a good resume into a mess that no one wants to read.
- Your age. Unfortunately, age discrimination exists and if you don't want to lose the chance for an interview because of your age, it's better to omit the information that could reveal your age, i.e. graduation date and your early jobs.
- Time off work. If you had some months or even years off because of unemployment, maternity leave or simply took a career gap, it's not a good idea to specify that in a resume. Gaps can be explained in a cover letter or in person during the interview.
- Personal pronouns. Using a first person or third person pronouns is not acceptable in resumes as it's obvious that the information given is about you.
- Not including keywords. Everyone these days knows that a good resume should be keyword-enriched. Use the keywords from a job posting or look up for keywords for your industry in specific online resources.
- Unprofessional email address. The perfect business e-mail has your first and second name, and maybe figures. No buzzwords, no full birth date – it looks unprofessional.
- Your office phone and address. It can make you feel uncomfortable if the prospective employer calls to your current office and your boss finds out about it.
- Internal company jargon. Many companies have their own abbreviations and names for technologies and processes. If you use them on the resume, hiring manager simply won't understand what you meant.
- Buzzwords. The hiring managers have had enough of ‘go-getters' and ‘best of breed' with ‘hands-on experience'. Prove your value by listing your results rather than using one of these words.
- Lengthy self-descriptions. Summary statements containing the excess of words like ‘motivated', ‘organized', ‘hard-working' and others which are not supported by concrete examples will not add you value.
- Reasons you quit your job. If you were fired because the company was merged or out of business, it's acceptable to specify that. Any other reasons are not stated in resume, but be ready to explain the reason on the interview.
- Short-term employment. Your career history contains a position you held for 2 months? It's not necessary to add it in your resume, unless this was a project work that can give remarkable examples of your skills and professionalism.
Formatting & Grammar Mistakes That Sabotage Your Resume
Formatting errors are one of the biggest resume formatting red flags that immediately catch an employer’s eye. Issues such as inconsistent fonts, bad spacing, and an unreadable layout can make even the most qualified candidate look unprofessional. Recruiters spend only seconds scanning a document, so cluttered design, poor resume white space balance, or lack of bullet point optimization can quickly turn them away. These are classic resume formatting errors that make it harder to highlight achievements, leaving hiring managers frustrated and less likely to move forward with your application. Clean, consistent formatting shows attention to detail and makes the document easy to read.
On the other hand, grammar and spelling issues are equally damaging because they reflect carelessness. Following basic resume grammar rules ensures that the document reads smoothly and conveys professionalism. Something as small as a single typo in resume can cast doubt on your credibility and attention to detail, especially when competing against other strong candidates. Employers see these mistakes as preventable and often interpret them as a lack of thoroughness. While a perfectly written resume doesn’t guarantee a job, overlooking simple errors makes rejection far more likely. That’s why proofreading, grammar checks, and consistent editing are essential to maintain a polished, credible presentation.
What Not to Put on a Resume: Red Flags to Avoid
When creating a strong application, it’s just as important to know what not to put on a resume as it is to know what to include. Many candidates unintentionally add details that seem harmless but are actually resume killers and major red flags for recruiters. From irrelevant personal information to distracting extras, these are exactly the things to avoid in a resume if you want to make a professional impression. You may wonder, “what should you not put in your resume?” The truth is, some details do more harm than good and can quickly land your application in the rejection pile. To prevent showcasing unprofessional resume examples, there are certain items you should avoid at all costs. In the guide below, we’ll break down what ruins a resume and highlight the top elements you should absolutely avoid putting resume details that don’t belong.
- Social media links (except for professional networks). Facebook or Instagram where you share selfies and traveling shots have nothing to do with your professional life, thus, no need to give links to them on the resume.
- Desired salary. The resume is all about what you can offer the company and not what you can get. Salary is negotiated during the interviewing process and putting it on the resume can turn the HR down.
- References upon request. It goes without saying, so don't waste the space.
- Your hobbies. Unless they're relevant to the job or field, leave them out, as something generic like ‘reading, cooking, comics' is just a waste of resume space and recruiter's time.
- Putting your headshot at the top of it. Unless the job advert specifies that you need to attach the photo for consideration, inserting your headshot will not help you get the job or can even harm.
Fixing Your Resume: How to Improve and Stand Out
Multiple internet resources authored not by resume writers or career coaches confuse job-seekers and give the background for resume myths. Nevertheless, if you correct the above 30 mistakes, this will already help you build an effective resume and be one step ahead of other job-seekers in the competition. Moreover, you can consult our blog for more resume tips totally free of charge.
Improving your resume means carefully removing every mistake that could keep you from landing your dream job. Small errors waste valuable space and can overshadow your relevant experience and job responsibilities, making it harder for job candidates to stand out. Even worse, overlooked issues can confuse the applicant tracking system, reducing your chances of being noticed for a new job. So, why is it important to avoid resume errors? Because hiring managers see them as signs of carelessness. To succeed, follow resume proofreading tips, learn how to fix resume errors, and rely on proven resume writing advice supported by a solid resume checklist for 2025. If you’ve ever wondered, “how to tell if your resume is bad?”—it’s often due to errors that can easily be prevented.
Here are three quick ways to polish your resume:
- Double-check spelling, grammar, and formatting using professional resume proofreading tips.
- Match your job responsibilities and achievements with the relevant experience listed in the job description.
- Run your document through an applicant tracking system simulator to ensure it’s optimized.
Don’t let simple mistakes cost you opportunities—take action today to get resume help and use a trusted resume review service for a stronger application.
Special Cases: Engineers, Students, and International Job Seekers
As a professional agency, we regularly deal with job application documents. We have noticed that young men often experience difficulties with such papers. Having analyzed their most common resume mistakes, our career coach has made a helpful list of weak places.
✓ Listing details that are not relevant to the future job
Avoid a frequent resume mistake: do not write a long work history that is not related to a particular job. There is no sense to overload your resume with excess information. Two pages are too much for a resume unless you are a senior specialist with plenty of suitable experiences, such as a solid managing director, for instance.
✓ Mistakes in contact details or missing contact information
Do not deprive a recruiter of an opportunity to reach you. Your email and phone number must be valid. The same is about other contact data. The background checks verify all the facts.
✓ Ignoring soft skills
When hiring professionals most employers pay attention to communication skills, as well as the ability to work in a team, make and explain decisions, etc. List talents that will help you solve new work issues.
✓ Focus on personal interests
Employers, above all, expect to see a qualified candidate. The fact that you are an interesting person with a bunch of awesome hobbies does not have to overshadow your professionalism. Do not draw the employer's attention to your sports accomplishments, personal website, individual projects unless they relate to your specific position.
✓ Mentioning past employers in the bad light
The work ethic matters. Whatever situation you have, do not write negative things about your former manager. A neutral impartial tone is the best choice in this case.
✓ A lack of white space
A resume is not a story or an essay. It must be concise and well-structured. Try to make more lists and short paragraphs. For instance, one can use bullet points to present job duties.
✓ Using present tense for past positions
Please, use past tenses to describe past experiences. It is grammatically correct to mention previous jobs in the past tense.
In addition, engineers often fall into the top 5 resume mistakes for engineers, which can cost them opportunities. Common curriculum vitae mistakes include excessive jargon, lack of measurable achievements, and outdated formatting. Many also fail to tailor resumes to job descriptions or highlight soft skills. For international applicants, key mistakes to avoid on your resume in Australia include adding unnecessary personal details and ignoring local standards. Even strong technical expertise may be overlooked if the resume isn’t clear, relevant, and strategically presented.
Final Checklist: Avoid These Resume Killers
A well-structured resume is more than just a list of jobs—it’s your first impression with an employer, and even small missteps can lead to instant rejection. Many resume killers come from simple resume red flags like missing contact details, weak summaries, or cluttered formatting. Often, candidates underestimate how these overlooked resume issues affect hiring decisions, while common resume myths debunked—such as thinking design doesn’t matter or buzzwords guarantee success—prove the opposite. This checklist highlights essentials to avoid resume rejection reasons and ensure your application stands out.
☑ Correct contact information (including professional email address)
☑Professional summary
☑ Focus on your strengths that correspond to expectations of the company
☑ Professional experience that will interest your future employer
☑ Relevant skill set
☑ Personal interests relate to the chosen job position
☑ Logical structure and clear format
☑ Impeccable grammar, vocabulary, style (do not overdo with too many buzzwords)
☑ Pleasant to look design
We hope the above checklist will help you to check if something is wrong with your document. Many candidates choose our website to get help with career start and promotion, and they really succeed. Here are some more recommendations on how to make a perfect resume:
- look through good examples of job application documents (use job-seeking platforms);
- try to think like your potential employer: pay attention to the philosophy and values of the company;
- double-check grammatical errors and facts;
- do not use the same resume for several different positions.
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FAQ:
What is the worst resume mistake?
The worst mistake is submitting a generic resume that isn’t tailored to the job. It shows a lack of interest and drastically reduces your chances of getting an interview. Poor formatting, typos, and irrelevant information are also major resume killers.
What are 5 common resume mistakes?
Five of the most common resume mistakes include spelling and grammar errors, poor formatting, using an unprofessional email address, including irrelevant details, and failing to match your resume with the job description.
How do resume mistakes affect hiring?
Resume mistakes can make a bad first impression and may lead to automatic rejection. Hiring managers and ATS systems often use errors as a quick way to filter out unqualified candidates.
Can resume mistakes cost you a job?
Yes. Even small mistakes can disqualify you from the hiring process. Employers see errors as a lack of professionalism and attention to detail, which are critical in most roles.
Are resume mistakes a dealbreaker?
Often they are. In competitive job markets, employers don’t hesitate to dismiss resumes with mistakes—especially when they have plenty of polished alternatives to consider.
How to avoid resume mistakes?
Always proofread your resume, use a consistent and professional layout, and tailor each version to the specific job. Consider using a resume review service to identify hidden issues.
Which of the following is true of errors on résumés?
Errors on résumés signal a lack of attention to detail and lower your chances of getting hired. Even a single typo can suggest unpreparedness or poor communication skills.
Your resume should at least contain:
At minimum, your resume should include your full name, contact information, a professional summary, relevant work experience, measurable achievements, and core skills. Optionally, you can add certifications or a LinkedIn profile.
How to avoid personal pronouns in resume?
Write in an implied first-person voice without using “I” or “my.” Start sentences with action verbs like “Led,” “Created,” or “Managed” to keep the tone professional and concise.
How to tell if your resume is bad?
If you're not getting interviews, your resume may have poor structure, outdated language, irrelevant content, or lack quantifiable achievements. A professional resume review can help you pinpoint the issues.