Most resumes aren’t rejected because the candidate is unqualified. They’re rejected because of small, avoidable mistakes that make a recruiter — or an applicant tracking system (ATS) — move on. Use this list as a checklist before you hit send.
Content mistakes
- Listing duties instead of achievements. “Responsible for sales” says nothing. Write “Closed ₹25 lakh in new business in 6 months.” Our list of resume action verbs helps.
- No numbers. Quantify results: percentages, money, time saved, team size, customers served.
- One resume for every job. Recruiters notice generic resumes. Adjust your summary and skills for each role — see how to tailor your resume.
- A vague or missing summary. The top third of the page decides whether the rest gets read. Learn how to write a resume summary.
- Irrelevant information. Hobbies, school-level marks and jobs from 15 years ago rarely help. Keep only what supports the job you want.
Formatting mistakes
- Too long. One page for most people, two for experienced professionals. Read how long a resume should be.
- Hard-to-read design. Tiny fonts, heavy colours, tables and text in images confuse ATS software. Use a clean template with clear headings.
- Inconsistent formatting. Mixed date formats, fonts and bullet styles look careless. Pick one style and stick to it.
- Walls of text. Use 3–6 short bullet points per job, each one or two lines long.
- Wrong file type. Send a PDF unless the employer asks for Word. Here’s how to save your resume as a PDF.
Detail mistakes
- Typos and grammar errors. Read your resume aloud, use a spell-checker, and ask a friend to proofread.
- An unprofessional email address. Use a simple one like firstname.lastname@gmail.com.
- Missing or broken contact details. Double-check your phone number and make sure your LinkedIn link works.
- Unnecessary personal details. In most countries you don’t need your photo, date of birth, religion, marital status or full address.
- Lying or exaggerating. Background checks and technical interviews expose inflated titles and fake skills quickly.
Quick fixes
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| “Worked on reports” | “Automated 12 weekly reports, saving 6 hours a week” |
| 3-page resume | Cut older roles to one line each and remove weak bullets |
| “References available on request” | Delete it — employers assume this |
| resume.pdf | Rename to “FirstName-LastName-Resume.pdf” |
| Skill bars and star ratings | Plain list of specific skills |
Final check: Would a stranger understand what you do, how well you do it and why you fit this job in 10 seconds? If not, tighten your summary and first bullet points.
The easiest way to avoid formatting mistakes is to start with a proven layout. Choose one of our ATS-friendly resume templates and let the resume builder handle spacing, fonts and alignment for you.