9 Resume Errors That Instantly Kill Your Application

Here is the hard truth that most candidates do not want to hear: only about 2 percent of resumes result in an interview. That means for every 100 applications you submit, roughly 98 are rejected, often before a human ever sees them. In most cases, it is not because the candidate lacks qualifications. It is because the resume makes critical, avoidable mistakes.

This guide identifies nine common resume errors that can lead to application rejection, based on surveys of recruiters, eye-tracking studies, and feedback from hiring managers.

The Reality of Resume Screening

Before we get into the mistakes, it helps to understand what your resume is up against.

• The average job posting receives 250 or more applications
• Technical roles often receive 350 to 400 or more
• 98.8 percent of Fortune 500 companies use Applicant Tracking Systems
• Recruiters spend about 6 seconds on an initial scan
• Up to 75 percent of resumes never reach a human reviewer

You are competing against automation, volume, and time pressure. Small errors have outsized consequences.

1. Typos and Grammar Errors

Recruiters consistently rank spelling and grammar errors as one of the fastest reasons to reject a resume. Not because they are nitpicky, but because mistakes signal carelessness.

If a candidate did not proofread the most important document of their career, recruiters assume the same level of care will show up on the job.

Common issues

• Inconsistent date formats
• Misspelled job titles
• Incorrect apostrophes
• Homophones like their, there, and they are
• Random spacing or formatting shifts

How to fix it

• Use spell check and manual review
• Read the resume out loud
• Print it and review on paper
• Do a final pass just for dates, titles, and headings

2. Sending a Generic Resume

Recruiters can spot a generic resume instantly. It tells them the role was not a priority, and when they are reviewing hundreds of applicants, that matters.

A resume written for everyone feels written for no one.

What tailored actually means

• The job title matches the posting exactly
• Skills reflect the role requirements
• Experience is ordered by relevance
• The summary aligns with the position

How to fix it

• Maintain a master resume
• Reorder bullets for each application
• Adjust your summary per role
• Spend 15 to 20 minutes tailoring per job

Ten tailored applications outperform a hundred generic ones.

3. Missing Keywords and ATS Rejection

Most resumes are filtered by software before a recruiter ever sees them. If your resume does not contain the right keywords, it can disappear.

ATS systems do not interpret intent. They match text.

What ATS looks for

• Exact skill phrases
• Job titles from the posting
• Repeated core requirements

How to fix it

• Pull keywords directly from the job description
• Use exact phrasing where truthful
• Avoid tables, columns, icons, and graphics
• Submit as a clean PDF or DOCX

If the ATS cannot read it, a recruiter never will.

4. Listing Duties Instead of Achievements

Resumes that read like job descriptions do not stand out. Recruiters are not hiring responsibilities. They are hiring results.

Example

Weak
Responsible for managing social media

Strong
Grew Instagram following from 5K to 50K in 12 months

How to fix it

• Use numbers wherever possible such as percent, dollars, time, or volume
• Show before and after impact
• Add context like team size, scope, and timeline

Think outcomes, not tasks.

5. Using Buzzwords and Cliches

Terms like team player, hard worker, and results driven appear on nearly every resume. Without evidence, they carry no meaning.

Recruiters do not reject candidates for using buzzwords. They reject them when the resume is full of buzzwords and empty on proof.

How to fix it

• Replace claims with evidence
• Show collaboration through outcomes
• Let metrics do the talking

If it cannot be demonstrated, it does not belong.

6. Wrong Length or Over Designed Format

Over designed resumes often break ATS parsing. Overlong resumes bury key information. Both frustrate recruiters.

General rules

• Entry level or early career: 1 page
• Mid to senior level: 2 pages
• Use standard fonts
• Use 10 to 12 point font with clear spacing
• Use bullet points instead of paragraphs

Design should never compete with content.

7. Including a Photo in the US and UK

In many regions, especially the US and UK, resumes with photos are often rejected due to legal risk. Employers want to avoid even the appearance of bias.

How to fix it

• Remove your photo unless the role or country explicitly requires one

8. Unprofessional Email Address

An email address is often the first personal detail a recruiter sees. An unprofessional one undermines credibility immediately.

Avoid

• Nicknames
• Birth years
• Random numbers
• Inside jokes

Best format

firstname.lastname@gmail.com

If your name is taken, try:

• firstnamelastname@gmail.com
• firstname.m.lastname@gmail.com
• lastname.firstname@gmail.com

9. Ignoring Your Online Presence

Recruiters routinely check candidates online. A polished resume paired with an unprofessional digital footprint creates doubt fast.

What hurts

• Inappropriate public posts
• Complaints about past employers
• Inconsistencies with your resume

What helps

• A complete, professional LinkedIn profile
• Industry relevant activity
• A consistent career narrative

How to fix it

• Google yourself
• Make personal accounts private
• Remove questionable content
• Ensure LinkedIn matches your resume

Final Pre Submission Checklist

Content

• Tailored to the role
• Keyword aligned
• Achievement focused
• Free of filler

Format

• Correct length
• ATS readable
• No photos or graphics
• Clean PDF or DOCX

Review

• Proofread carefully
• Reviewed by another person
• Read aloud once

Final Thought

Most resumes do not fail because candidates lack experience. They fail because of preventable mistakes that compound under volume and automation.

Fix these nine errors, and you move into a much smaller and more competitive group of applicants. That is how interviews actually happen.