9 Worst Resume mistakes to avoid

If you want your job application to make it past the gatekeepers and into the hiring manager's hands, avoid these cringe-worthy resume-writing mistakes. Below are the survey results revealing the top 9 biggest resume mistakes that will cause the majority of recruiters to reject a candidate.


1. Including a headshot

It's not common practice in the U.S. to include a headshot and could come across as egotistical or of poor judgment if you do include one. Unless you're an actor, you're converting your resume to a CV for an international job application, or there's another clear reason as to why you'd include a headshot on your resume, leave it off.

2. Repetitive phrases or words used in multiple job descriptions

It can also come across as if you didn't care enough to put the effort into using a variation of action-oriented words and being specific for each position listed. When a recruiter reads the same words or phrases on a resume, it becomes redundant.

3. Being too generalized or not customizing to match the job listing

A seasoned recruiter will be able to tell if you're using a cookie-cutter resume or not. You don't need to do a full overhaul of your resume for every job application you send. However, you need to tweak your resume to align with every job for which you apply. In addition, customizing your resume with appropriate keywords from the job posting will ensure your application doesn't get tossed by the ATS.

4. Annoying buzzwords and obvious keyword stuffing

If you deliberately stuff keywords into your resume or use a bunch of annoying buzzwords, it will be painfully obvious to the recruiter -- not to mention a big turnoff.

Use keywords wisely and incorporate them into your resume so they make sense and flow naturally. It's important to include keywords from the job posting in your resume in order to make it past the applicant tracking software (ATS) recruiters use to scan and weed out unqualified candidates.

5. Failure to demonstrate and quantify results

Without demonstrating or providing quantifiable results, it might appear that you had "responsibilities," yet didn't take initiative or achieve actual results. A recruiter wants to see the results you've achieved in past positions, as it speaks to the potential you have to do well in the role for which they're trying to fill.

6. Including outdated or irrelevant information

Avoid including your age, hobbies, or marital status on your resume — this type of information says that you aren't up to speed with today's resume-writing standards.

It also sets you up to be eliminated for discriminatory reasons related to items such as age and gender. If you have information that is outdated or irrelevant on your resume, your resume will likely go in the trash. Typically, unless it's relevant to the job, it doesn't belong on your resume.

7. Using an unprofessional email address

Little did they know that, in order to land an interview, it's helpful to have an email address that speaks to who you are and not to some alter ego of who you'd like to be. Recall in college, high school, or even middle school those people who made fun of you for not being "original" when it came to your email address.

8. Incorrect or missing contact information

Applicant tracking systems (ATS) cannot read that information and will list your contact details as missing or incomplete in the system. Never add your contact information to the Header portion of a Word document or paste your contact information in as an image.

If you're missing pertinent contact information, or the contact information you've included is incorrect, you're making it difficult for recruiters to get in touch with you. The goal of a resume is to land you an interview. Also, be wary of the location and format you use to list your contact information on your resume.

9. Spelling and grammatical errors

Editing your resume to eliminate spelling and grammatical errors might seem obvious; the fact that I'm even listing it might make most job applicants roll their eyes. Yet, this resume mistake topped the list of deal-breakers in the survey. In addition, try printing your resume out to review or using a free tool like Grammarly to scan your resume for contextual spelling mistakes that spell check won't pick up.

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