10 Resume Mistakes That Get You Rejected (and How to Fix Each One)

When applications go unanswered, it is tempting to blame luck. More often, the resume is losing information in the ATS or failing the recruiter’s quick first scan. Here are the ten problems we see most often, in roughly the order they cost people interviews.

1. A layout the ATS can’t read

Two columns, tables, text boxes and icons can scramble or drop your details when the resume is parsed.

Fix: use one column and standard headings. Test by copying all text from your PDF into Notepad — it should read in order. See the ATS-friendly resume format.

2. Missing the skills the job asks for

Recruiters search for specific tools and skills. “Databases” doesn’t match a search for “MySQL”.

Fix: use the exact skill names from the job description, where true, in both your skills section and your bullets. Follow the keyword method.

3. Duties instead of achievements

Fix: action verb + what you did + result. See how to quantify achievements.

4. A generic objective

“Seeking a challenging position in a reputed organisation” tells the reader nothing and takes the most valuable space on the page.

Fix: two lines: who you are, your strongest relevant skills, one proof point, and the role you want.

5. Contact details that are hard to find — or wrong

Phone numbers in a footer the ATS ignores, an old college email you no longer check, or a typo in a digit.

Fix: put name, +91 phone, a professional email, city and LinkedIn at the top of the body. Call your own number from the resume once.

6. Listing skills you can’t discuss

Every skill listed invites questions. Twenty technologies with no projects behind them looks like padding and fails in the interview.

Fix: list what you can answer questions on; mark lighter exposure as “basic”. Back each key skill with a project or bullet.

7. Spelling, grammar and inconsistent formatting

Mixed date formats, random capitalisation (“java”, “JAVA”, “Java”), and typos signal carelessness — especially for roles that need attention to detail.

Fix: pick one date format, write tool names the official way, run a spell-check and read the resume aloud once.

8. Too long, or crammed

Freshers with two-page resumes full of school achievements, or experienced candidates with 9-pt text squeezed onto one page.

Fix: one page for freshers and under ~5 years’ experience; two pages at most beyond that. Cut old and weak points rather than shrinking the font.

9. Unnecessary personal details

Date of birth, religion, marital status, father’s name, full home address and a photo add length and nothing an employer needs to shortlist you.

Fix: remove them. City is enough for location. Keep the space for skills and projects.

10. One resume for every job

Sending the same resume to a testing role, a developer role and a data role means it is a weak match for all three.

Fix: keep a master resume, and for each type of role adjust the summary, skill order and top bullets. It takes 10 minutes and makes a real difference.

Find your mistakes in 10 seconds

HiResume checks your resume for all ten of these — readability, keywords, weak bullets, missing sections — and shows exactly what to change, free.