Top Resume Mistakes that Could Cost You the Job

Even if you're a qualified candidate, one seemingly small resume mistake could mean the difference between a job-landing interview and a missed opportunity. Remember, your resume is the first opportunity you get to make a lasting impression on a prospective employer. Everything from typos to outdated formats can quickly cause your resume to be tossed. 

The best way to start fixing common resume mistakes is to avoid the ones that show up the most.

1. Spelling and grammar errors

Typos and grammar issues are resume mistakes that instantly kill your chances. Recruiters often call out spelling and grammar issues as the number one resume deal-breaker. Even a single mistake makes it look like you didn’t take the time to check your work.

Use tools like Grammarly or run a spell check, but don’t stop there. Print it out and read it slowly. Better yet, have someone else review it. Having a fresh set of eyes proofread your resume could catch what you miss.

2. Incorrect or missing contact information

The goal of a resume is to land you an interview. If you're missing contact information – or the contact information is incorrect – you're making it difficult for recruiters to get in touch with you. It’s a huge red flag because if you can’t handle perfecting small details, like your phone number, what are you going to do with bigger ones on the job?

Also, be careful where and how you list your contact details. Avoid putting them in the header or pasting them in as an image. Many applicant tracking systems, or ATS, can't read that, which can cause your resume to be flagged or skipped.

3. Using an unprofessional email address

Remember those people from college, high school, or even middle school who made fun of you for not being "original" when it came to your 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. 

You might not think your email address matters, but it does. It's one of those resume mistakes that can make a recruiter stop reading. If your address looks like a joke or belongs to your teenage self, you're not being taken seriously.

Stick to a simple, professional format that includes your name – not a nickname or alias. Avoid using your current work email too. Keep it personal, appropriate, and easy to recognize.

4. Including outdated or irrelevant information

Including outdated or irrelevant information on your resume could cost you. If it doesn’t relate to the job you’re applying for, cut it. That includes hobbies, age, marital status, or anything else that doesn’t support your qualifications.

This kind of info makes your resume feel dated and opens the door to bias. Keep it focused on your skills, experience, and results that match the role.

5. Listing irrelevant skills

Not every skill belongs on your resume. If it doesn’t match the job, it clutters your message. This is one of the most common resume mistakes that makes it harder for hiring managers to spot what matters.

Aim for a balance of hard and soft skills that connect directly to the job description. Skip outdated tools or vague traits like “multitasking.” Show that you understand what the role needs and that you’ve got those skills.

5. Failure to demonstrate and quantify results

One of the biggest resume mistakes to avoid is listing responsibilities without showing what you actually achieved. A recruiter wants to see results from your past positions because that will help them determine the potential you have for the role they’re trying to fill. 

Use numbers as often as you can – business growth numbers, improved retention stats, increased sales, proven return on investment, or cut costs. When you show results, you stand out. If you’re not standing out, recruiters have no reason to call you. 

6. Buzzwords and keyword stuffing

It's important to include keywords from the job posting in your resume in order to make it past the ATS. Make sure you're incorporating keywords in a way that sounds natural. If you deliberately stuff keywords into your resume or use a bunch of buzzwords – think: “go-getter” or “team player” – it will be painfully obvious to the recruiter, not to mention a big turnoff. 

Use keywords from the job post, and focus on real skills and results instead of filler words that say nothing.

7. Not customizing your resume

Sending the same resume to every job is a monumental waste of your time and ranks among the top resume mistakes you can make. While you don't need to do a full overhaul of your resume for every job application you send, you do need to tailor it a bit.

Customizing your resume with appropriate keywords from the job posting will ensure your application doesn't get tossed by the ATS. 

8. Repeating the same words and phrases

Repeating the same language for every role is one of those resume mistakes that makes your experience sound flat. It also looks lazy. If every bullet point starts the same way, it’s harder for recruiters to see what you really did.

Use varied action verbs and make each job section feel specific. Show growth and impact, not just recycled lines.

9. Including a headshot

Adding a photo might seem like a personal touch, but it’s one of the resume mistakes that can backfire fast. In most industries in the U.S. it’s not expected, and can even raise legal or bias concerns.

Unless you're an actor, you're writing an international CV, or there's another clear reason as to why you'd include a headshot on your resume, leave it off. 

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10. Overdesigned formatting

When it comes to your resume format, less is more. The more elaborate or creative you get with your resume format, the more likely recruiters will be forced to hunt for the information they care about, and the more likely they will skip over your application altogether.

Since overdesign is one of those resume mistakes that makes it harder for hiring managers to find what matters, use clear headings, plenty of white space, and a readable font. Skip charts, graphics, tables, and text boxes.

11. Using a resume objective

The age of using a resume objective has died. They focus on what you want – not what the employer needs. That makes them one of the most common resume mistakes job seekers still make.

Instead, use a professional summary. A short, focused intro that shows your value, not your goals, gives hiring managers a reason to keep reading.

12. Resume that’s too long or too short

A resume that’s either too long or too short can hurt your chances. If it's too short, it might look like you don't have enough experience. If it’s too long, busy hiring teams won’t read it.

• Stick to one page if you have less than five years of experience

• Use two pages for more than 5 years of experience 

The best way to keep your resume fresh, relevant, and on the right number of pages is to remember that you’re summarizing the last 10-15 years of your experience in a way that “speaks” to the job you’re trying to get.

13. References

You probably know that including references is a resume mistake you should avoid. You should also ditch the phrase “References available upon request.” It is just as unnecessary – if a prospective employer wants references, they’ll ask for them whether you say they’re available or not. Don’t waste resume real estate! 

Additional resume mistakes to avoid

Even small missteps can make a difference. Watch out for these common resume mistakes that still trip people up:

• Dense blocks of text: Make your resume easy to scan. Use short paragraphs and bullet points – not walls of text.

• Too many bullet points: Limit bullets to 3-5 per role to avoid overwhelming the reader.

• Using vague job titles: If your actual title was “Customer Support Specialist” but you refer to yourself as a “Customer Happiness Ninja,” hiring managers won’t be amused.

• Inconsistent formatting: Switching fonts, bullet styles, or layout between sections makes your resume look sloppy and rushed.

• Wrong file format: Sending a resume in the wrong file format (like .pages or .txt) can make it unreadable. Use Word to apply for jobs online and PDF to email your resume directly to a human being. 

• Unclear section headings: Headings like “What I’ve Done” or “My Journey” might sound creative but confuse ATS and recruiters. Stick to standard labels like “Work Experience,” “Core Competencies/Skills,” and “Education.”

• Using first-person pronouns: A resume isn’t a cover letter. Avoid “I,” “me,” or “my.” Write in concise bullet points that focus on achievements.

• Leaving employment gaps unexplained: Gaps aren’t a deal-breaker, but if they’re long or frequent, they need context either in your cover letter or a brief line in your resume.

• Lying or exaggerating: Stretching dates or inflating responsibilities might seem tempting, but background checks catch lies quickly. Even minor exaggerations can cost you the job.

• Forgetting to update your LinkedIn profile: If your resume says one thing and your LinkedIn says another, that inconsistency can raise questions.

How to avoid these resume mistakes

The best way to avoid resume mistakes is to remember who it's for. Your resume isn’t about telling your whole story, it’s about showing the hiring manager what they need to see. 

• Use the language from the job description

• Focus on the skills and results that matter for that role

• Cut anything that doesn’t serve that purpose

The bottom line is that you need to keep your resume clear, relevant, and easy to read. That’s what gets noticed.

Make every word count

You don’t control who’s hiring, how many people applied, or whether someone reads your resume all the way through. But you do control what’s on the page. Every word, every section, every choice either moves you forward or holds you back. If your resume isn’t opening doors, it’s closing them, and you owe it to yourself to fix that.

If you need a second opinion on whether your resume is free of resume mistakes, get some expert eyes on it. TopResume’s free resume review will show you what’s working and what’s holding you back.

This article was originally written by Soozy G. Miller. It’s been updated by Marsha Hebert.