Tips
7 resume mistakes to avoid
The KaloCV team 2 min read
Recruiters often skim a resume in moments before deciding whether to read it in detail. Some mistakes, although easy to fix, can be enough to cost you an interview. Here are the seven most common ones.
1. Leaving typos
A typo on a resume suggests carelessness, especially for roles that require attention to detail. Read your resume out loud, run a spell checker, then ask someone else to proofread it: after a few reads, you stop seeing your own mistakes.
2. Writing a resume that is too long or too dense
One page is usually enough early in your career, two pages at most for an experienced profile. Cramped text is as tiring as long text: keep margins, space between sections and short paragraphs.
3. Listing duties instead of results
"Managed social media" describes a duty, not what you achieved. Prefer a line that shows impact, for example: "Redesigned the Instagram content strategy, doubling engagement in six months". Start each line with an action verb and quantify your results whenever it is possible and verifiable.
4. Sending the same resume everywhere
A generic resume shows. Without rewriting everything, at least tailor the headline, the profile summary and the order of your skills to each posting. Put the experience most relevant to the role first.
5. Neglecting your contact details
Double-check your phone number and use a professional email address, such as firstname.lastname@…. List your city rather than your full address, and add your LinkedIn profile if it is up to date.
6. Including unnecessary information
Marital status, social security number or full date of birth do not belong on a resume. In the US and the UK, leave the photo out; in some European countries a photo is optional. Only mention hobbies if they add something to your application.
7. Inconsistent formatting
Multiple fonts, different alignments or date formats that change from line to line look messy. Choose one font, two sizes at most and a single date format, then apply them everywhere.
Good to know: starting from a well-built template solves length, hierarchy and visual consistency issues from the outset. You can then focus on the content.