Most Common Mistakes That Kill Your Resume

Our resume works like a ticket to your career opportunities, but how well it’s optimized can determine whether you get selected or not. Most freshers often make some common mistakes, which prevent their resumes from being shortlisted.

That’s why I, Akash Kumar, have brought this helpful article for you. Here, I’ll explain the common mistakes every fresher tends to repeat and how they negatively impact your chances of getting a job.

So, without wasting any time, let’s dive into this amazing career guide.

Top 10 Mistakes That Kill Your Resume

These mistakes are not only made by freshers—you might be making them too. Even if you have job experience and are preparing your resume or CV for a new opportunity but not getting selected, it could be because of one of the mistakes listed below.

So, let’s go through each of these mistakes one by one and also learn how to avoid them, so you can create a fully optimized resume.

Mistake 1: Using Wrong Format

This mistake is very common among freshers. When they try to create a resume from scratch, there’s often no professional format. Many freshers just write their details randomly, without any structure or pattern.

As a result, the resume looks messy, and the chances of it getting selected are very low.

Solution: The best way to fix this is either to get your resume made by someone experienced who understands how a resume should look, or use a professional fresher resume template.

Mistake 2: Spelling or Grammar Error

Anyone can make this mistake, and sometimes just not paying attention can be an error in itself. But it’s also true that a single letter can change the meaning of a word, so it’s very important to make sure your resume has no grammatical or spelling mistakes.

Solution: You can use some tools to help. For example, MS Word gives hints, and for a more advanced option, you can use Grammarly. This tool is very reliable and also comes in handy for emails, blogs, and other writing tasks.

Nowadays, modern hiring methods are being used to recruit employees, and one such method is ATS (Applicant Tracking System). Many resumes fail to meet ATS criteria, which is why they don’t get shortlisted. So, it’s important to make sure your resume is ATS-friendly.

Solution: You can use our ATS Score Checker tool to see if your resume is ATS-friendly. Alternatively, you can create your resume using ATS-friendly resume templates and then check it with the tool.

Many people make the mistake of making their resume too long or too short. Sometimes, they write it as if they are telling their whole life story and include unnecessary details. Other times, people provide very little information, which isn’t enough for the job requirements.

Solution: There’s no tool for this, but here’s the advice: carefully read the job notification and requirements. Then, include just the right amount of content in your resume—not too much, not too little—so it matches what the job needs.

One major reason a resume may not be ATS-friendly is missing the right keywords. Employers set specific keywords based on the job role, so only resumes that match those criteria get selected.

Solution: Make sure to include the keywords relevant to the job role in your resume. You can Google them or use AI tools like ChatGPT, which can suggest modern and useful keywords for your resume.

A vague statement like “I want to work in a challenging environment and grow with the company” adds no value to your resume. Recruiters see this line thousands of times. Instead, write a targeted summary that highlights your skills, achievements, and how you can contribute to the role.

Solution: Replace your objective with a career summary or professional headline. For example:

“Computer Science graduate skilled in Python and SQL, with internship experience in data analysis. Seeking to apply problem-solving skills in a data-driven role.

The problem here is that your resume can become very long but not useful. Many people include information that doesn’t add any value or meaning, which makes the resume cluttered and less effective.

Simply writing “Handled projects successfully” doesn’t impress employers. Numbers speak louder — for example, “Led a 5-member team and increased efficiency by 20%”. Always back up your achievements with measurable results.

Solution: Use numbers, percentages, and outcomes to prove your contribution. 

For example: “Led a 5-member project team that reduced website load time by 35%.” “Increased sales by 15% through a targeted digital marketing campaign.

Creative designs may look appealing but most Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) can’t read them. Overuse of colors, logos, or stylish fonts can make your resume unreadable. Stick to clean, professional fonts like Arial or Calibri for maximum clarity.

Solution: Stick to ATS-safe fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. Use bold and bullet points for emphasis instead of graphics. Keep your resume design clean, professional, and easy to scan.

It sounds basic, but many candidates forget to add their email, phone number, or LinkedIn profile. Without this, recruiters can’t even reach you. Double-check your contact section before sending out your resume.

Solution: Always include:

• Full name
• Mobile number (with correct country code if applying abroad)
• Professional email ID (avoid casual addresses)
• LinkedIn profile link (customized URL looks professional)
• Portfolio / GitHub (if relevant)