Common Resume Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)

Great experience can still get filtered out by small mistakes. Use this list to tighten yours quickly.

Top mistakes & quick fixes

1. One generic resume for all jobs. Tailor the summary and top bullets to each posting.
   Fix: Keep a master resume; customize 5–8 keywords and impact bullets per role.
2. Vague bullets. Prefer specifics: “Increased qualified leads by 32%.”
   Fix: Action + what + tech/method + metric.
3. No numbers. Add %, $, #, and time saved to show impact.
4. Visual clutter. Avoid tables/text boxes that confuse ATS.
5. Typos & inconsistent formatting. Keep dates, dashes, headings consistent.

Quick formatting tune-ups

• 1 page (entry/mid) or 2 pages (senior).
• Standard fonts: Inter, Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman.
• Clear section headings; single column; generous line height.
• Export to PDF for final submits.

A results-focused, error-free resume gets faster callbacks. Tighten wording, quantify outcomes, and keep the layout easy to scan.