Common Resume Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Most resume problems are ordinary and fixable. This list is ordered by how much they tend to hide: if you only fix the first three, you will have fixed the ones that matter most.
1. Listing duties instead of results
"Responsible for weekly reporting" tells a reader what the job was, not what you did with it. Say what changed. If you have no figure, say the effect plainly.
Before Responsible for weekly reporting.
After Automated the weekly report so the team no longer copied figures by hand each Friday.
2. Generic claims
"Dynamic, results-driven professional" could describe anyone. Replace each such phrase with a specific fact or delete it.
3. One resume for every job
Reorder and reword for each job you care about, using only true experience. See the tailoring guide.
4. Layout that does not read cleanly
Columns, text boxes and contact details in headers can scramble when software extracts the text. Use a single column, standard headings and a text-based file, then test by copying your text into a plain editor.
5. Skills that appear only in a list
A skill with no work behind it is hard to believe. Show it inside a bullet.
6. Inconsistent or missing details
- Date formats that change between roles.
- A job with no dates, or dates that overlap without explanation.
- Tenses that switch within a role.
- Missing contact details or a link that does not work.
7. Padding
Long lists of every task dilute the best ones. If a bullet would not help for the job you want, shorten or remove it.
8. Anything you cannot defend
Inflated titles, figures or skills are the mistake with the worst downside. Remove them before someone asks.
A ten-minute self-review
- Read the first third only. Would a stranger know what job you want and why you are credible for it?
- Underline every verb. Does each bullet begin with something you did, or with "responsible for"?
- Circle the results. How many bullets say what changed? If few, start there.
- Copy the text out of the file. Paste it into a plain editor and check it reads in the right order.
- Read it aloud. Awkward or repeated phrasing is easier to hear than to see.
Get a second reader
Ask someone you trust, ideally someone who works in the field you are applying to, to read your resume for a few minutes and tell you what they think you do and what stands out. Ask them to mark anything they do not understand.
Their confusion is more useful than their praise, because it shows you exactly where a reader will stop.
Key Actionable Takeaways
- Results beat duties.
- Specific beats generic.
- Make the file readable, then make the writing strong.
- Remove anything you cannot explain.
Frequently asked questions
- Which mistake should I fix first?
- Duties without results, because that is where most of the persuasive value is lost.
Apply this to your resume
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