5 Common Resume Mistakes That Cost You Interviews
Learn what recruiters hate to see and discover the critical errors that prevent qualified candidates from landing interviews.
Miles Butler
Career Coach & Resume Expert
Published • 7 min read
Hey there! I'm Miles, and over the past decade, I've reviewed thousands of resumes as a career coach. And let me tell you, I've seen some pretty painful mistakes that cost qualified people their dream jobs.
Just last week, I worked with Sarah, a talented marketing manager who'd been job searching for 8 months with zero callbacks. Her resume was packed with experience, but it was making 4 out of the 5 critical mistakes I'm about to share with you. After we fixed them? She landed 3 interviews in 2 weeks.
The truth is, most resume advice out there is either outdated or too generic. I'm going to share the exact mistakes I see most often and, more importantly, how to fix them so you can start landing interviews.
Here's What I've Learned From 10+ Years of Resume Reviews
These aren't just statistics. They're patterns I see every single day in my practice:
of resumes never reach human recruiters due to ATS filtering
average time recruiters spend scanning each resume
of recruiters automatically reject resumes with typos
The 5 Resume Killers I See Every Week
I wish I could say these were rare, but honestly? I see at least one of these mistakes in 80% of the resumes that cross my desk. Let me walk you through each one:
Generic, One-Size-Fits-All Resumes
Impact: 75% of resumes are rejected by ATS systems
Here's the harsh truth: I can spot a generic resume from a mile away. When I'm reviewing applications, I'm looking for candidates who took the time to understand what I need for this specific role. A one-size-fits-all resume tells me you're playing the numbers game, sending out 50 applications hoping something sticks. But here's what actually works: quality over quantity. I'd rather see 5 perfectly tailored resumes than 50 generic ones. When you customize your resume for my specific job posting, you're making my job easier. I can immediately see how your experience connects to what I'm hiring for, which means you're much more likely to move to the next round.
The fix: Spend 30+ minutes customizing each application. Use exact keywords from the job posting.
Before:
Experienced professional seeking a challenging position in marketing to utilize my skills and grow my career.
After:
Digital Marketing Manager with 5+ years driving ROI growth through data-driven campaigns. Increased lead generation by 150% and managed $500K+ budgets for B2B SaaS companies. Expert in Google Ads, HubSpot, and marketing automation.
Focusing on Duties Instead of Achievements
Impact: 60% longer screening time for duty-focused resumes
This one drives me crazy because it's such a missed opportunity. When I'm scanning resumes, I'm not interested in your job description. I already know what a Marketing Manager is supposed to do. What I want to know is: what did YOU specifically accomplish in that role? Did you increase leads? By how much? Did you improve conversion rates? Save the company money? I need to see results, not responsibilities. Think about it from my perspective: I have two candidates with similar backgrounds, but one shows me they 'managed social media accounts' while the other shows they 'grew Instagram following by 300% and generated $50K in new revenue.' Guess who's getting the interview? Always lead with your wins, not your job duties.
The fix: S - Situation: Brief context. T - Task: What you accomplished. A - Action: Steps you took. R - Result: Quantified impact.
Before:
Responsible for managing the company's social media accounts and posting content regularly.
After:
Grew Instagram following from 5K to 50K in 12 months through strategic content planning and community engagement, resulting in 40% increase in website traffic and $100K additional revenue.
Poor Formatting and Design Choices
Impact: ATS systems reject 43% of poorly formatted resumes
Look, I get it. You want your resume to stand out. But here's the reality: fancy formatting often works against you. As someone who reviews hundreds of resumes weekly, I need to scan them quickly. If I have to squint at tiny fonts or hunt for your contact info buried in a header, I'm already frustrated. And don't even get me started on resumes that come through as mangled text because the ATS couldn't parse them properly. I've seen brilliant candidates get overlooked because their resume used a creative template that the system butchered. Your content should be the star, not your design skills. Clean, simple formatting actually makes you look more professional and ensures both humans and machines can read your qualifications easily.
The fix: Use standard fonts and simple formatting. Save as .docx format for ATS compatibility.
Before:
Creative design with graphics, multiple colors, and complex layout
After:
Simple black text on white background, standard fonts, clear section divisions, and ATS-friendly formatting
Including Irrelevant or Outdated Information
Impact: Increases rejection rate by 23%
Time is my most precious resource when reviewing resumes. I typically spend 6 to 10 seconds on initial screening, and every irrelevant detail takes away from the good stuff. When I see someone listing their job from 1995 or telling me they're 'proficient in Microsoft Word,' it signals they don't understand what's important for this role. I'm looking for recent, relevant experience that directly connects to the job I'm filling. If you're applying for a digital marketing role, I don't need to know about your retail job from college unless you can tie it directly to customer insights or sales skills. Every line should answer the question: 'How does this make me a better candidate for THIS specific job?' If it doesn't, cut it. Give me more space to focus on what really matters.
The fix: Focus on last 10-15 years of experience. Remove outdated skills and personal info.
Before:
Includes: Age 45, married with 2 children, enjoys hiking and cooking, proficient in Windows XP
After:
Clean professional summary focused on relevant skills, recent achievements, and current technologies
Typos, Grammar Errors, and Poor Writing
Impact: 58% of recruiters automatically reject resumes with typos
This is probably the most painful mistake to see because it's completely preventable. When I find a typo in a resume, it raises immediate red flags about attention to detail and professionalism. If you can't be bothered to proofread the document that represents your career, how can I trust you'll be careful with my company's work? I've seen qualified candidates eliminated for misspelling the company name or using 'there' instead of 'their.' It seems harsh, but when I have 100+ resumes for one position, I need reasons to narrow the field quickly. Don't give me an easy reason to pass. This is especially critical if you're applying for roles that require precision—writing, analysis, client-facing positions. A single error can cost you the opportunity before I even consider your qualifications.
The fix: Read aloud and use grammar checkers. Have someone else review it.
Before:
Managed team of 5 people and was responible for there training and developement. Helped company achive 20% growth.
After:
Managed team of 5 professionals and was responsible for their training and development. Helped company achieve 20% revenue growth through improved processes.
My 30-Minute Resume Fix Formula
I've used this exact process with hundreds of clients. Set a timer and work through these steps—you'll be amazed at the difference it makes:
Spell check and grammar review
Use Grammarly or read aloud
Remove irrelevant information
Keep only last 10-15 years of relevant experience
Convert duties to achievements
Add numbers, percentages, and impact metrics
Customize for target job
Include keywords from job description
Format check and ATS test
Copy-paste into plain text to test readability
A Quick Personal Note
Look, I know job searching can feel overwhelming. Trust me, I've been there. Early in my career, I sent out more than 200 resumes and got maybe 3 responses. It was brutal.
But here's what I learned: it's not about being perfect. It's about being strategic. Every single one of these mistakes is fixable, and small changes can make a massive difference.
Remember Sarah from the beginning? She didn't rewrite her entire resume. We just fixed these 5 issues, and suddenly recruiters started paying attention. Your breakthrough could be just one edit away.
Questions I Get Asked All the Time
After years of coaching, these are the questions that come up in almost every session:
What's the biggest resume mistake people make?
The biggest mistake is using generic, one-size-fits-all resumes. Each application should be tailored to the specific job, incorporating relevant keywords and highlighting the most relevant experience for that role.
Should I include every job I've ever had on my resume?
No, focus on relevant experience from the last 10-15 years. Include older positions only if they're highly relevant to the job you're applying for. Quality and relevance matter more than quantity.
Is it okay to stretch the truth on my resume?
Never lie on your resume. Even small exaggerations can backfire during interviews or background checks. Instead, focus on presenting your genuine accomplishments in the best possible light with specific examples and metrics.
How long should my resume be?
For most professionals, 1-2 pages is ideal. Entry-level candidates should stick to one page, while senior professionals with extensive relevant experience can use two pages. Never exceed two pages unless you're in academia or have very specific industry requirements.
Should I include a photo on my resume?
In most countries (US, Canada, UK), don't include a photo as it can lead to unconscious bias and may violate anti-discrimination laws. Only include photos if specifically requested or if it's standard practice in your country/industry.
What's the best way to handle employment gaps?
Be honest about gaps and focus on what you did during that time - freelancing, education, volunteering, or personal projects. Use a functional resume format if gaps are significant, and address them proactively in your cover letter.
Want Me to Take a Look at Your Resume?
I've built ResumeTuned to give you the same insights I provide my 1-on-1 coaching clients. Let's get your resume working as hard as you do.