Common Resume Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Typos, Spelling Errors, and Grammar Issues

A single typo can eliminate you from consideration. Studies show that 76% of hiring managers immediately reject resumes with spelling or grammatical errors. Why? Because it signals carelessness. If you can’t proofread your own resume—the most important document of your career—how can they trust you with client work, content, or strategic projects?

Fix:

• Proofread 3+ times (your own eyes miss errors)
  
• Use Grammarly or similar tools
  
• Read backwards (slows your brain, catches more errors)
  
• Have someone else proofread
  
• Check every number, date, and company name
  

Mistake 2: Inconsistent Formatting

You use “Microsoft Excel” in one bullet but “MS Excel” in another. Dates are “June 2023” in one spot but “6/23” elsewhere. Font changes mid-page.

Inconsistency looks unprofessional and confuses ATS systems trying to parse information.​

Fix:

• Choose one date format (MM/YYYY) and stick to it
  
• Decide on abbreviations (Microsoft Excel or Excel, not both)
  
• Use one font throughout
  
• Keep bullet point formatting consistent
  
• Align sections uniformly
  

Mistake 3: Passive Voice and Weak Verbs

“Responsible for marketing” sounds weak. “Assisted with content creation” sounds like you did minimal work. “Participated in strategy discussions” minimizes your role.

These phrases make you sound like a bystander, not a leader.

Fix: Replace with action verbs

• ❌ “Responsible for increasing sales”
  
• ✅ “Increased sales by 35% through targeted outreach”
  
• ❌ “Helped create marketing campaigns”
  
• ✅ “Led 3 integrated marketing campaigns reaching 500K+ people”
  
• ❌ “Worked on website improvements”
  
• ✅ “Optimized website landing pages, improving conversion rate from 1.8% to 3.2%”
  

Mistake 4: No Quantifiable Results

“Managed social media” tells them nothing. How many followers? What engagement rates? How long did you manage it?

Numbers make achievements memorable and prove impact.

Fix: Add metrics to every achievement

• ❌ “Managed social media accounts”
  
• ✅ “Managed Instagram and LinkedIn accounts, growing combined followers from 12K to 67K (458% growth) and increasing engagement rate from 1.2% to 4.8%”
  
• ❌ “Improved website traffic”
  
• ✅ “Improved website organic traffic from 5K to 45K monthly visitors (800% growth) through SEO optimization and content strategy”
  

Mistake 5: Generic Descriptions

“Excellent communication skills,” “team player,” “creative thinker,” “problem solver”—these are meaningless without context.

Every resume says these things. They don’t differentiate you.

Fix: Provide specific examples in bullets

• ❌ “Good at communication”
  
• ✅ “Presented quarterly results to C-suite executives, translating complex data into actionable insights for 50+ stakeholders”
  
• ❌ “Strong problem solver”
  
• ✅ “Identified root cause of 35% cart abandonment, implemented checkout optimization, reducing abandonment by 23%”
  

Mistake 6: Missing Keywords from Job Description

Job posting mentions “Google Analytics 4,” “Conversion Rate Optimization,” and “A/B Testing.” Your resume never uses these terms.

The ATS won’t find matches. You’re filtered automatically.​

Fix:

• Copy the job posting
  
• Identify 5-10 key skills/keywords
  
• Integrate them naturally into your resume
  
• Use both long-form and acronyms (Google Analytics 4 AND GA4)
  

Mistake 7: Unexplained Gaps in Employment

A 2-year gap between jobs with no explanation raises immediate questions: Were you fired? Health issues? Unreliable?

Unexplained gaps hurt your credibility.

Fix: Address gaps briefly and positively

• Minimal gap (1-3 months): Usually okay without explanation
  
• 6-month gap: Brief explanation like “Career transition, completed digital marketing certification”
  
• 1+ year gap: Explain in cover letter, not resume (e.g., “Took career break for family reasons; completed advanced certifications during this period”)
  

Mistake 8: Including References or “References Available Upon Request”

“References available upon request” wastes valuable resume space. Hiring managers know to ask for references—you don’t need to tell them.

Fix:

• Don’t include this line
  
• Don’t list references on resume
  
• Prepare a separate references sheet (provide only if asked)
  
• When asked, send 3 professional references with their title, company, and phone number
  

Mistake 9: Outdated or Irrelevant Information

You list “High school GPA: 3.8” when you have a master’s degree. You mention a 2010 award. You include “Proficient in Windows Vista.”

Outdated information makes you seem out of touch. Irrelevant information wastes space.

Fix:

• Remove high school education (if you have college degree)
  
• Remove awards older than 7-10 years
  
• Remove outdated tools (nobody needs Windows Vista skills in 2024)
  
• Focus on recent, relevant achievements

Mistake 10: Being Too Vague About Responsibilities

“Worked in marketing” is too vague. What marketing? SEO? Social media? Email? Paid ads?

Vague descriptions force recruiters to guess—and they usually move to the next resume.

Fix: Be specific about your role

• ❌ “Worked in marketing”
  

✅ “Managed SEO strategy, content creation, and Google Ads campaigns for B2B SaaS company”