12 Common Resume Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Small, avoidable mistakes often cause good candidates to be passed over. Here are twelve of the most common ones, with a fix for each.
1. A generic resume for every job
Fix: Keep a master version, then adjust your summary, skills order and top bullets to match each posting.
2. Duties instead of achievements
Fix: Rewrite bullets to show outcomes. Ask yourself "so what changed because of my work?"
3. Typos and inconsistent formatting
Fix: Proofread out loud, check dates and capitalisation, and have a friend review it. Use one date format and one bullet style throughout.
4. An unprofessional email address
Fix: Use a simple address based on your name. Create a free one if needed.
5. Too long or too crowded
Fix: Aim for one page if you have under ten years of experience. Cut older or irrelevant roles and use sensible margins.
6. A weak or missing summary
Fix: Add two to four specific sentences about who you are, what you are good at and one result.
7. Listing every skill you have ever touched
Fix: Keep only relevant skills you are comfortable discussing, grouped into categories.
8. Including personal data that is not needed
Fix: Omit date of birth, marital status and full home address unless the local convention for your country requires them.
9. Over-designed layouts
Fix: Choose a clean, single-column template with readable fonts. Avoid graphics for skill levels and text in images.
10. Unexplained employment gaps
Fix: A brief, honest line such as "Career break: caregiving" or "Full-time study" is usually enough. Mention any courses or projects completed during the gap.
11. Broken or missing links
Fix: Test every link in your final PDF. Make sure your portfolio, GitHub or LinkedIn profile is current and public.
12. Saving in the wrong format or with a poor file name
Fix: Export a text-based PDF and name it clearly, such as "Jane-Doe-Resume.pdf".
Final checklist
- Tailored to the specific role
- Every bullet shows an outcome or scope
- No spelling errors, consistent dates
- One or two pages, clear headings
- Working links, professional email
You can apply this checklist while building your resume in the MySimpleResume builder.