Common Resume Mistakes That Get You Rejected

Recruiters and ATS tools reject resumes for predictable reasons. Fix these issues before you apply and you immediately stand out from a large share of applicants.

Mistakes that hurt the most

1. Typos and inconsistent formatting — signals low attention to detail.
2. Duty lists instead of achievements (“Responsible for…” with no outcome).
3. One generic resume for every job — no keyword or role alignment.
4. Graphics, columns, and icons that break ATS parsing.
5. Missing contact info, broken links, or unprofessional email addresses.
6. Outdated objective statements that waste precious space.
7. Lying about skills or dates — a fast way to fail interviews.

How to self-audit in 10 minutes

• Read the resume aloud once.
• Check every link and phone number.
• Confirm dates and company names.
• Ensure at least half your bullets include a metric or clear result.
• Compare skills against the job posting and fill honest gaps.