Top 10 Resume Mistakes That Could Cost You the Job

Your resume is your first impression—and in a competitive job market, it must be flawless. Recruiters spend just a few seconds scanning your profile, which means even a small mistake can land your resume in the reject pile. At Career Shooter, we’ve reviewed thousands of resumes—and we know exactly what works and what doesn’t.

Here are the top 10 resume mistakes that could cost you the job—and tips on how to avoid them.

1. Spelling & Grammar Errors

Nothing screams carelessness more than typos and grammatical mistakes. Always proofread your resume, or use tools like Grammarly to catch small but costly errors.

2. Poor Formatting

A cluttered or inconsistent layout makes your resume hard to read. Use clean, professional fonts, clear section headings, and consistent alignment. Less is more.

3. Too Long or Too Short

A resume should be concise but comprehensive. For most professionals, 1–2 pages is ideal. Avoid filling it with fluff or cutting out key achievements.

4. Generic Objective Statement

Skip the cliché “Looking for a challenging position…” Instead, write a powerful summary that highlights your experience, skills, and what value you bring to the role.

5. Lack of Keywords

Many companies use ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems). If your resume doesn’t include relevant keywords from the job description, it might never reach a human recruiter.

6. Irrelevant Experience

Tailor your resume to each job. Remove experience that doesn’t support the role you’re applying for. Highlight transferable skills if you’re changing industries.

7. Ignoring Achievements

Don’t just list duties—show impact. Use quantifiable achievements like “Increased sales by 30%” or “Reduced onboarding time by 40%.”

8. Including Personal Details

There’s no need to mention age, religion, marital status, or your full address. Focus on professional information that helps recruiters evaluate your suitability.

9. No Action Verbs

Start bullet points with strong action verbs like “Led,” “Developed,” “Managed,” or “Improved.” It makes your contributions more dynamic and impressive.

10. Missing Contact Information

This may sound obvious, but many candidates forget to add an updated phone number, email address, or LinkedIn profile. Always double-check!

Conclusion

Your resume is your ticket to landing interviews—make sure it works for you, not against you. Avoiding these common mistakes will significantly improve your chances of getting shortlisted. Need help? At Career Shooter, we offer professional Resume Building & Career Counseling services to help you stand out from the crowd.