Resume mistakes that can cost you interviews (and how to fix them)

By Vicki Salemi, career expert at Monster.com

When I worked in corporate recruiting, I often cringed when I reviewed resumes from talented candidates but cringed when I spotted some faux pas. I couldn’t reach out to tell them what leapt off the screen, even though I wanted to tell them, “Hey, make this slight change and you’re good to go!” 

With a few tweaks here and there, they could have maximized their chances to land an interview. Since the resume is a gatekeeping document to open the door to land that first interview, it has to shine. That old adage still rings true: “You only get one chance to make a first impression.”

So, let’s make it count. And keep in mind, you’re not in this alone. There are online tools and templates that can help guide you in building your resume. One of the main blaring mistakes I’ve seen is the format and lack of structure and formatting. The good news? That’s super fixable! Here are several other mistakes and how to fix ‘em.

Typos and grammatical errors

This one is a no-brainer. You’re probably already doing spell check and scanning for errors, but are you reading it aloud? Make sure to read your resume out loud. Does it flow? Better yet, did the spell check make a mistake? For instance, if you type the word jog instead of job, it won’t get detected and then you’ll have an innocent typo without even realizing it.

It’s not so much the typo as what it represents: a lack of attention to detail, pretty ironic though when you’re pursuing jobs that require that level of attention. Details matter.

Using a one-size fits all resume

Yes, you can and totally should have multiple resumes available for a variety of industries. It’s a good strategy to have them already at your fingertips. For instance, if you’re pursuing a job in customer service, then shine a spotlight on your soft skills. However, if a job in accounting or actuary is more your thing, then your quantifiable skills must be front and center. 

Including too much extraneous information

If you juggle a part-time job in addition to all of your academics and a social life and five clubs on campus while wanting to focus on your extracurricular activities section on your resume, that’s too much. Your primary activities will get lost in the shuffle.

Instead of including everything you’re involved with during your college experience, include the top two or three things. If you’re a leader in a campus activity, great! Mention it with a bullet around your leadership skills and responsibilities. 

It’s fine to have a section entitled Extracurricular Activities or something similar, but when you want to impress employers, listing 10 activities you’re involved with to demonstrate time management won’t be as effective as listing two or three key ones where you elevated to the top as a leader. If you’re not currently involved at leadership levels, try to volunteer for an initiative like an annual drive or something so you can include that as a highlight reel.

Listing responsibilities

Your resume shouldn’t look like a job description with responsibilities. Rather, it should pop with your achievements. Each bullet should show the impact you made. For instance, if you managed social media accounts that may be what you did on a daily basis, but writing something like “grew social media engagement of four accounts by 30 percent during 3 months” can make a bigger impact. Show quantifiable results whenever possible.

Including old information

If you’re graduating this spring and you still have a high school lifeguard job on your resume, it’s okay to drop it. As you progress in your career, you’ll need to evaluate your resume to see what can be deleted over time. When you include jobs from years ago or hobbies that don’t relate to the role, they can clutter your resume. If you want to include a hobby section, you can include hobbies you’re currently passionate about and pursuing even if you’re not there yet, like learning how to play the guitar or speak fluent Mandarin.

Include your contact information

Don’t worry about a snail mail address even though it may be on previous versions of your resume. This isn’t necessarily a mistake, but I just wanted to mention it. As long as you have an email and phone number where you’re reachable, you’re all set. (I’ve actually seen resumes without email addresses! Please don’t be that guy or gal.) You can include social media handles as well, but the two most important contact pieces are your email and phone number. 

Above all, when it comes to your resume and avoiding mistakes, your resume should be the best (one-dimensional) version of yourself without errors, sparkling and ready to be in the hands of recruiters who can’t wait to interview you!