7 Resume Mistakes That Cost You Interviews
Most resumes are not rejected for one big reason. They are rejected for several small ones that add up. The fixes below are quick, and each one removes a reason for a recruiter to say no.
1. A vague, generic summary
A summary that says "hard working professional seeking a challenging role" tells a recruiter nothing. Replace it with two or three sentences naming your role, your strongest result, and the value you bring. Specific beats polished.
2. Listing duties instead of achievements
"Responsible for managing the social accounts" is a duty. "Grew the social following from 4,000 to 22,000 in a year" is an achievement. Recruiters hire for results, so lead every bullet with one.
3. No numbers anywhere
Numbers make a resume credible and concrete. Percentages, dollar amounts, team sizes, timeframes. If a bullet has no number, ask whether you can add one truthfully.
4. The same resume sent everywhere
One generic resume matches no job particularly well. The candidates who get interviews tailor each resume to the posting, mirroring its language. See our guide on tailoring a resume to a job description.
5. Formatting the screening software cannot read
Columns, tables, text boxes and graphics often break in an Applicant Tracking System. Stick to a clean single column with standard headings. More on this in how to beat ATS systems.
6. Typos and inconsistency
A typo signals carelessness for a job that rewards attention to detail. Read your resume aloud, check dates line up, and keep tense and punctuation consistent throughout.
7. Too long, or padded with filler
One page is ideal early in a career, two pages once you have years of experience. Cut anything older than roughly ten years and anything that does not help you win this specific role.
Catch these mistakes before a recruiter does
RisenResume scores your resume, flags weak bullet points, and rewrites them into quantified, recruiter ready achievements.
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