Formatting mistakes
1. Non-standard section headings
Using headings like Where I Have Been or My Toolbox instead of Experience and Skills breaks ATS parsing and slows down human readers. Use standard section names. Save creativity for the content.
2. Contact information in the header or footer
Many applicant tracking systems cannot read text inside a document header or footer. If your name, email, or phone number is placed there, it may be missing entirely from the recruiter's view. Move contact information into the body of the resume.
3. Scanned or image-based PDFs
A PDF that was scanned from paper, or that was exported from a design tool as an image, contains no readable text. The ATS sees an empty document. Always export a PDF with selectable text. Test it by pressing Ctrl+A and seeing whether everything highlights.
4. Unnecessary tables and text boxes
Tables used for layout, text boxes placed on top of the page, and multi-column layouts with floating elements all confuse parsers. Use a single column with standard structure unless you are certain the resume will be read by a human first.
5. Fonts that do not render everywhere
If you choose a font that is not installed on the reviewer's machine and is not embedded in the PDF, the text will fall back to something unexpected, sometimes with broken layout. Use standard fonts or embed fonts in the PDF export.
Content mistakes
6. Vague adjectives and buzzwords
Words like passionate, dynamic, hardworking, and results-driven are claims with no evidence. Replace them with a specific action and a specific number.
7. Responsibility statements instead of accomplishments
Responsible for managing the sales pipeline tells the reader nothing about outcomes. What did you actually do and what happened? Rewrite the bullet so that every sentence describes an action and a result.
8. No numbers anywhere
If your resume contains no numbers, the reader cannot gauge the scale of your work. Add revenue, user counts, team sizes, dollar values, percentage changes, or time saved. Anything measurable.
9. Job descriptions copied from a posting
Copying the responsibility list from your job description onto your resume produces a document that looks identical to every other candidate who had the same title. Write bullets that describe your specific accomplishments.
10. Missing keywords from the job posting
If the posting says cross-functional collaboration and your resume says collaborated with other teams, the ATS will not match them. Use the exact terms the posting uses where they truthfully describe your work.
11. Acronyms without the spelled-out form
Write Search Engine Optimization (SEO) the first time, then use SEO afterward. This catches both forms in ATS keyword searches. Same rule for any industry acronym.
Structure mistakes
12. Leading with education when you have experience
Once you have two or more years of relevant work history, education should sit below experience. Leading with your degree suggests you have not yet internalized professional priorities.
13. Employment gaps with no explanation
Large unexplained gaps raise questions. Either include what you were doing or use a hybrid format that leads with skills so the gap is less prominent. Never fabricate.
14. Resume running to three or more pages
Unless you are an academic with a CV, three pages is almost always too long. Compress. For the vast majority of professional roles, one or two pages is the standard.
15. Too much white space or too little
Wide margins and generous line spacing push content onto a second page unnecessarily. Tight margins and dense text make the document exhausting to read. Aim for 15 to 20mm margins and line height between 1.4 and 1.5.
Presentation mistakes
16. Photos for US, Canada, or UK applications
Photo use varies by region. It is common and sometimes expected in parts of Europe, Asia, and Latin America. In the US, Canada, and the UK, photos are uncommon and can raise bias concerns during screening. For ATS submissions, omit the photo entirely.
17. Multiple fonts or too many colors
A resume that uses three fonts and four accent colors looks unprofessional. Pick one serif or sans-serif family for body, one for headings if you want contrast, and one accent color. That is enough.
18. Grammatical and spelling errors
A single typo on a resume costs credibility disproportionately. Read the resume out loud. Send it to a friend. Run it through a spellchecker and read it again.
19. Inconsistent date formats and capitalization
If one role says March 2022 to Present and another says 2019-2021, fix it. Pick one format and use it everywhere.
20. Unprofessional email address
If your email address is from 2008, create a new one for job applications. Use firstname.lastname or initials. It takes five minutes and it matters.
How to catch these mistakes
- Read the resume out loud. Your ear catches what your eye misses.
- Print it on paper. Mistakes are easier to spot on a printed page.
- Wait a day and read it again. Fresh eyes catch more errors.
- Ask someone else to read it. Even a non-expert will catch obvious problems.
- Run it through a spellchecker and a grammar tool.
- Check every number and date against your records.
Frequently asked questions
How many mistakes is too many?
Even one can cost you an interview if it is in the top third of the page. Two or more seriously reduce your chances. Fix all of them.
Do recruiters really spend only six seconds on a resume?
Initial screening is fast, often under thirty seconds. Recruiters scan for match, red flags, and evidence.
Should I address employment gaps on the resume?
If the gap is longer than a few months, yes. Briefly state what you were doing.
Is a photo ever acceptable?
Yes, in regions where photos are standard, and in specific industries. For ATS submissions, omit the photo.
How do I know if my resume has parsing problems?
Open the PDF, press Ctrl+A to select all, copy, and paste into a plain text editor. If the text comes out scrambled or missing sections, the ATS will have the same problem.