Five resume mistakes that quietly cost candidates interviews

Recruiters read a resume quickly, often in under a minute, before deciding whether to call. These five mistakes are easy to fix and cost good candidates interviews.

1. One resume for every job

A generic resume forces the reader to work out why you fit. Match your summary and top skills to the role you are applying for, using the words in the job description.

2. Listing duties instead of results

“Responsible for testing” tells a recruiter little. “Automated regression tests for a mobile app and cut release testing time” shows what you did. Where you can, say what changed because of your work.

3. Hiding key details

Recruiters need your current role, total and relevant experience, location and notice period quickly. Put them at the top, not on page three.

4. Long, cluttered formatting

Two pages is enough for most people. Use a clean layout with clear headings, and save it as a PDF or DOCX so it opens correctly everywhere.

5. Skipping the basics

Typos, an unprofessional email address or a phone number that is out of date can end a good application. Read the resume aloud once before you send it.

One more thing

Upload your resume once, keep it current, and tell the recruiter what you are actually looking for. A clear profile is easier to match to the right role.