Common Resume Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Most resumes are not rejected for lack of talent. They get passed over for small, fixable errors that make the reader doubt your care or clarity.
The most common resume mistakes are typos, an unprofessional email, long paragraphs, tables or graphics that confuse ATS software, and bullets that list duties instead of results. Fix them by proofreading aloud, using a simple one-column layout, and writing short achievement-based bullets with consistent dates.
Typos, grammar and a careless first impression
A single spelling error will not end your chances, but several in a short document suggest you did not check your work. Names of tools and companies are common trouble spots, such as 'Javascript' versus 'JavaScript', or 'Micrsoft'.
How to fix it
- Run a spell check, then read the resume aloud, slowly. Your ear catches what your eye skips.
- Read it backwards, line by line, to spot wrong words.
- Ask a friend or senior to read it once.
- Pick one tense: past tense for old jobs, present tense for your current job.
Do not trust autocorrect for names of places and institutions. Check each one against the official spelling.
Wrong or unprofessional contact details
If the recruiter cannot reach you, nothing else matters. Look at your contact block with fresh eyes.
Weak: cutie_boy_786@mail.com, an old number that is often switched off, no city.
Better: rahul.sharma.dev@gmail.com, a mobile number with WhatsApp, and 'Jaipur, Rajasthan'.
- Use an email built from your name.
- Check that your phone number has no missing digit.
- Add your city; the full home address is not needed.
- If you add LinkedIn or portfolio links, test them. A broken link looks worse than no link.
Long paragraphs and walls of text
Resumes are scanned quickly. Dense paragraphs hide your best points. Each bullet should carry one idea in one or two lines.
Before
I was responsible for managing the social media accounts of the company and also I used to create posts and reply to customers and prepare monthly reports for my manager which were also shared with the team.
After
- Managed 3 social media pages and posted 5 times a week.
- Replied to customer messages within one working day.
- Prepared monthly engagement reports for the marketing manager.
Aim for 3 to 5 bullets per role, with the strongest first. For length rules, see how long should a resume be.
Tables, graphics and fancy layouts that confuse ATS
Many companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) that read your file as text. Designs that look great to people can be read in a jumbled order by software.
- Risky: multi-column layouts built from tables, text inside images, skill bars and star ratings, icons instead of words, headers and footers holding key details.
- Safer: one clear column, standard headings such as Experience, Education and Skills, normal fonts, and text for every important detail.
Skill bars also say little. 'Excel 80%' means nothing to a reader; 'Excel: pivot tables, lookups, dashboards' says what you can do. Learn more in what is an ATS resume and run a check with our ATS resume checker.
Duties instead of achievements, and unexplained jargon
A list of duties tells the reader what the job was. An achievement tells them how well you did it. Use a simple pattern: action verb + what you did + result or scale.
| Duty-style line | Stronger version |
|---|---|
| Responsible for billing | Prepared 60+ GST invoices a month with zero pending corrections |
| Handled customer calls | Resolved about 30 customer calls a day and escalated complex cases to seniors |
| Worked on website | Built a 5-page website in React and cut page load time by compressing images |
Only use numbers you can defend. If you have no exact figure, describe the scale instead: 'daily', 'weekly', 'for a team of 6'.
Also avoid internal short forms such as project codes or team nicknames. If a stranger would not understand 'migrated the QRT-9 pipeline', explain it in plain words.
Inconsistent dates, formats and missing links
Small inconsistencies make the document feel untidy and can raise questions about your timeline.
- Use one date style everywhere, for example 'Jun 2022 – Mar 2024'.
- Keep experience in reverse order, newest first.
- Use the same bullet style, font and spacing across sections.
- Make sure dates in the resume match your LinkedIn profile and documents.
- If you are a developer, designer or writer, add a working link to GitHub, a portfolio or published work. See our projects section guide for how to describe it.
Photos and personal details in India
Indian resumes often carry details that are no longer required. Unless the job post asks, you generally do not need a photo, date of birth, father's name, marital status, religion or full address. Government forms and some campus drives may differ, so follow instructions given by the employer. Our guide on photo on resume in India explains when a photo is useful.
The same applies to the older biodata style. For private-sector jobs, a focused resume is usually the better choice; compare them in biodata format for job.
Also check your file name. 'resume_final_final2.pdf' looks careless. Use Firstname_Lastname_Resume.pdf, or add the role if you apply to many, such as Rahul_Sharma_Data_Analyst.pdf. For file type advice, read PDF or Word resume.
Pre-send checklist (fictional example included)
Fictional example. Anita (invented) was about to send her file named 'new resume 3.docx' with the email 'anitaa_cool@mail.com' and a two-column table layout. After this checklist she renamed it Anita_Das_Resume.pdf, switched to a name-based email, moved to a single column and rewrote four duty lines into results.
- Spelling and grammar checked, and read aloud once.
- Email, phone number and links tested.
- One-column layout; standard headings; no text inside images.
- Every role has 3 to 5 short bullets that show results.
- Dates are consistent, in order and match other profiles.
- No unnecessary personal details or low-value skill bars.
- Keywords from the job post are used honestly where they apply.
- Saved as PDF with a clean name, and opened once on your phone to confirm it looks right.
- Email subject and message are polite and name the role.
Build your clean, ATS-friendly resume — free
Start from a simple one-column template and avoid the common mistakes.
Create my resume →Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest resume mistake?
There is no single one, but unclear contact details, typos and bullets with no results are among the most damaging. All of them are easy to fix before you apply.
Do tables really break ATS reading?
Some systems read table-based layouts out of order or skip content. A single-column text layout is the safer choice.
Should I put a photo on my resume in India?
Usually not for private-sector corporate jobs unless the employer asks. Follow the instructions of each application.
How many bullets should I write per job?
Three to five concise bullets are enough for most roles, with the strongest results first.
Is it okay to use a fancy template?
Yes, if the layout is simple, text-based and readable on screen and in print. Heavy graphics and columns can create problems.
How should I name my resume file?
Use your name and the word resume, such as Firstname_Lastname_Resume.pdf, so it is easy to find in a recruiter's folder.