5 Resume Mistakes That Will Instantly Get You Put in the “Reject” Pile

by José Luis Published on August 5, 2022

Your resume is your first impression by a potential employer. Therefore, you should tailor it to fit the job you are applying for and highlight your skills and experience to highlight you in a crowd of multiple applicants.

If you’re considering changing careers or even switching industries, it can be hard to know what words to include on your resume. The right way to start is by understanding what employers want from candidates and then using that information to ensure your resume is spot-on.

Here are five common resume mistakes that will instantly get you thrown in the reject pile:

1. Not Addressing Key Qualifications

If you’re going to get a job, you must ensure that your resume is targeted at the position in question. For example, if you’re applying for a job as a lawyer or teacher (two of the world’s most popular dream jobs, as discovered in a report by Jobseeker), then it’s likely that a prospective employer will want someone that fits the specific field they’re hiring for.

On the other hand, if someone’s looking for someone who can lead a team in a different field, they’ll likely want something more generic — maybe even something like a “leader” or “team player.” Luckily, there are many professional resume examples you can use if you’re new and just not sure where to get started from.

2. Using Bad Grammar

A good resume shows the reader you can handle the job’s responsibilities and succeed. Therefore, you want to ensure that your resume is clear and concise so that it’s easy for recruiters to scan the page in half a minute or less.

The biggest problem with using lousy grammar is that it makes it hard for the recruiter to tell what you’re trying to say. For example, suppose a candidate uses poor spelling and grammar. Then, it becomes challenging to convey their emotion and even more complicated for the recruiter to understand what they’re trying to say. In industries or job scopes where you are required to report to clients, this will be a hindrance for employers to hire. To avoid these issues, it’s essential to use a spell checker like Quillbot to catch any spelling errors and ensure that your writing is clear and easy to understand.

3. Bad Document Formatting

One of job seekers’ most common mistakes is not formatting their resume correctly. Bad document formatting can be one of the most common reasons why resumes are rejected.

The first thing to remember when creating your resume is that it should be easy to read and understand. The simplest way to make your resume easier to read is by using a good font, font size, and margin size.

Another thing that you should be aware of is the spacing between lines on your resume. You want each line to be as close together as possible so that it doesn’t take long for someone to read through it and understand what you’re trying to convey in each section.

4. Using Wrong Contact Information

You must have invested a tremendous amount of time and effort into your resume, so it’s essential to get it right. But if you use the wrong contact information for your previous employers or schools, it could cost you a spot in an interview or even make it impossible for you to find work at all.

It’s good to use your real name and address on your resume. But if this is the only reference on your resume — or if someone else will be using it (like an HR representative) — then double-check that the address is correct before submitting your application.

5. Not Including a Cover Page

A cover page is your first chance to make an impression on recruiters and hiring managers. It is not something that you can add later.

It would be best if you had your resume printed as soon as possible after submitting it. You should use a professionally written cover page to provide the information about yourself that you want to highlight on your resume.

It isn’t just about formatting — it’s also about making sure that everything necessary in the front of your resume is visible at once.

Resume Mistakes Are Avoidable

Resumes are easy. Usually, you see what you get, or should, anyways. However, when you make a mistake on your resume, you end up with many things you could have done better. So don’t let your resume be tossed in the reject pile.