7 Most Common Resume Mistakes That Could Cost You the Job

Resume mistakes are plenty and common, but they’re also one of the fastest ways that could cost you the job.

So, in our time of modern entrepreneurship, it’s very important to pay attention to the fine margins whenever sending your resume. Avoiding these 7 most common resume mistakes will make sure you land your job.

So, not to waste too much of your time, let’s start.

1.  Grammar and Spelling Errors

The first mistake to avoid is quite possibly the most common one that appears universally with every resume written ever.

Namely, everyone makes grammar and spelling errors; one way or another. You’d have to pay very close attention to your writing to avoid any grammar and spelling mistakes or errors.

But luckily for you, these mistakes are easily avoided if you read back your resume whenever you finish it. This seems quite obvious but a large portion of the population is oblivious to the impact poor grammar and spelling have over their job application.

Since most resumes are written and send digitally, there is plenty of grammar and spelling tools that can help you avoid this costly mistake.

One that we suggest is the Grammarly App. This app monitors every word you type and highlights potential errors in your writing. Although you’d have to use the app itself for a greater, in-depth look at your writing it is still a great way to avoid spelling mistakes.

2.  Missing Contact Information

If the job applicant is missing their contact information, then how on Earth would the hiring team ever contact you? Let’s assume for a moment that you’ve passed the initial test with flying colors; what’s next?

Well, the next step hiring teams take is the opportunity to contact you and even call you in for a 1-on-1 session. But if you’ve added the wrong contact information, or you’ve completely forgotten to add it, then there is no way for them to get in touch with you.

This mistake is a costly one as it directly tells the hiring team about your attention to detail. Can you imagine how irresponsible it looks for an applicant to leave out their contact information?

3.  Having a Silly Email Address

In the real and professional world, having a silly address as your main email address is very unprofessional and uncalled for. It would be a huge mistake if you’d apply for a job using such an email.

This will not only make the people reviewing your application instantly throw away your resume, but chances are they’d also make fun of it.

So, take five minutes of your busy schedule and create an email that will look and sound professional. It doesn’t have to be anything special and your name and last name will do just fine. Just please, leave out the princess part.

4.  Using A Generic Template

In the 21st century and the year 2024, we have access to so much free information online that it would be considered a joke not to utilize some of it whenever we’re applying for a job.

Speaking of free resources, there are plenty of free resume templates out there that you can use to help land your dream job.

Using these templates is not only considered helpful for your cause, but you’ll also impress some of the hiring team. The main reason why you should use these templates is because of the wide range of information they can hold.

Since you’re probably not an expert in resume writing, these templates can help navigate you through the process. It would be considered a huge mistake not to use these templates as they will help you put together an impressive resume.

Many of these, such as Ladders, have a huge and impressive library of templates to choose from. Some of their free resources are specifically catered towards a specific industry, so that might also come in handy.

5.  Not Updating Relevant Information

People should frequently update their resumes whenever they get the chance. If you’ve recently worked at a place, then make sure to add it to your resume.

But not just that, you have to frequently update information that is both helpful and relevant to the job you’re applying for. A huge mistake people do is include irrelevant information such as age, hobbies, and your relationship status.

Quite honestly, companies have no interest in your relationship status and other information of the kind.

6.  Failing To Show Your Achievements

Every hiring team will look at what you’ve achieved in previous jobs and determine whether you’re up for the task or not. While this isn’t the only thing they will look at, it goes without saying that it is one of the more important ones.

Failing to show or demonstrate your achievements when writing your resume is a mistake you must avoid.

Recruiters want to see results from past job roles and this will be your biggest challenge when writing a resume.

7.  Avoid Using Buzzwords

If there is one thing that recruiters and hiring teams hate its buzzwords and annoying keywords that void the resume out of any character and meaning.

Once you’ve made your CV, you can start finding a job. Check out Jooble to find lots of job offers. A lot of companies use some kind of software to eliminate unqualified candidates. These software work based on keywords. The keywords in question are directly tied to the job offer. So, naturally, you have to include certain keywords that are part of the job you’re going after.

But you have to be smart about it. You can’t just include every single keyword associated with a programming role and expect the recruiters not to be annoyed with it.

You have to be sensible when using keywords and make them sound natural.

Also, buzzwords are a huge turnoff for hiring teams as it clearly shows them they’re dealing with an unserious person. Including annoying buzzwords is a clear and obvious mistake to avoid. If the recruiters and hiring teams do notice an abundance of annoying buzzwords, they will, then chances are you’ll instantly get rejected.