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Career Advice7 min

Common Resume Mistakes That Will Cost You the Job

Avoid these common resume mistakes that cause recruiters to reject perfectly qualified candidates.

Typos and Grammar Errors

A single typo can eliminate you. Proofread multiple times and ask someone else to review your resume.

Using an Unprofessional Email

Create a professional email address. 'partyguy@email.com' will not get you hired.

Including Irrelevant Information

Remove high school details, hobbies, and outdated skills. Focus on what matters for the role.

Too Much Text

Recruiters scan resumes in seconds. Use bullet points, short sentences, and plenty of white space.

Listing Duties Instead of Achievements

Do not just describe your job. Quantify your impact. 'Increased sales by 30%' beats 'Responsible for sales.'

Generic Objective Statements

Replace 'Seeking a challenging position' with a tailored professional summary that adds value.

Wrong File Format

Always send PDF unless asked otherwise. Word documents may render differently on different devices.

Lying or Exaggerating

Background checks reveal the truth. Honesty is always the best policy on your resume.

Missing Contact Information

Double check your phone number and email. It is surprisingly common to have a typo in contact details.

Not Tailoring to the Job

A generic resume for every application rarely works. Customize for each role.