Common Resume Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Using a Resume Objective

Many freshers start their resume with a resume objective. An objective usually talks about what the candidate wants from the company.

Instead, you can use a professional summary. It should briefly explain your education, skills, experience, and strengths.

For example, instead of saying that you are looking for a challenging job, explain what skills you have and how you can use them in the job.

A good professional summary helps the recruiter quickly understand your profile and can also make your resume more relevant for an ATS.

Including Irrelevant Experience

You do not need to give equal space to every job you have done.

If some of your previous experience is not related to the job you want, focus on the parts that can still be useful.

For example, if you worked as a cashier and are applying for a customer service job, you can mention skills such as:

• Talking to customers
• Handling payments
• Solving customer problems
• Maintaining accuracy

Focus on experience that shows why you are suitable for the job.

Not Providing Enough Details

Simply writing your job title and company name is not enough.

Your resume should explain what you did in your previous job and what you achieved.

You can start your points with strong action words such as:

• Managed
• Created
• Developed
• Improved
• Analysed
• Coordinated
• Implemented
• Increased

Whenever possible, add numbers or results.

For example:

Weak:
"Handled social media marketing."

Better:
"Planned and managed social media content to improve audience engagement and online visibility."

The second example gives the recruiter a better idea of your work.

Adding References

You usually do not need to add a References section to your resume unless the company asks for it.

Instead, use that space for more useful information such as:

• Certifications
• Projects
• Technical skills
• Achievements

If the company asks for references, provide the details of people who have agreed to be contacted.

Listing Irrelevant Skills

Adding a long list of skills does not automatically make your resume better.

Try to include skills that are related to the job you are applying for.

For example, someone applying for an accounting job can mention:

• Tally Prime
• Advanced Excel
• GST
• Bookkeeping
• Income Tax
• Financial Reporting

Only mention skills that you actually know. You should be comfortable explaining these skills during an interview.

Using relevant job-related keywords can also help you create a more ATS Friendly Resume.

Using the Same Resume for Every Job

Using the exact same resume for every job is a common mistake.

Different companies may look for different skills, even for similar job positions.

It is better to keep one main resume with all your information and then make small changes for each job application.

For example, you can change:

• Skills
• Keywords
• Experience
• Professional summary
• Projects

Try to match your resume with the job description. This can help make your resume more relevant to both recruiters and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

Using Outdated Contact Information

Your contact details must always be correct.

Before sending your resume, check your:

• Phone number
• Email address
• Location
• LinkedIn profile
• Other professional links

If your phone number or email address has changed, update your resume immediately.

A wrong phone number or email address can stop a recruiter from contacting you.

Describing Only Job Duties, Not Achievements

Many candidates only write about their daily duties.

But recruiters also want to know what you achieved through your work.

For example:

Basic:
"Handled SEO activities for the company."

Better:
"Performed keyword research and improved on-page SEO to increase website visibility."

The second example explains the actual work more clearly.

Whenever possible, mention results, improvements, numbers, or project outcomes.

Making Your Resume Too Short or Too Long

Your resume should not be too short or unnecessarily long.

Do not add information just to make your resume longer. At the same time, do not remove important information just to keep it very short.

Freshers can include:

• Education
• Internships
• Projects
• Certifications
• Skills
• Achievements

Experienced professionals should focus more on their important work experience, responsibilities, and achievements.

The main goal is to keep your resume clear, useful, and easy to read.

Making Grammar and Formatting Errors

Small mistakes can make your resume look unprofessional.

Before sending your resume, check for:

• Spelling mistakes
• Grammar mistakes
• Wrong dates
• Different fonts
• Uneven spacing
• Poor alignment
• Incorrect bullet points
• Punctuation mistakes

You can use a Free Online Resume Maker to get a clean layout and organise your information more easily.

However, always check the final resume yourself. A good design cannot fix incorrect information or spelling mistakes.

Using an Unprofessional Email Address

Your email address is also part of your professional image.

Avoid email addresses that contain:

• Nicknames
• Jokes
• Slang
• Unnecessary numbers or words

Use a simple email address based on your name.

For example, an email using your first and last name usually looks more professional.

If your current email address is not suitable for job applications, create a separate professional email account.

Including Salary Requirements

You usually do not need to mention your expected salary on your resume unless the company asks for it.

Your resume should mainly focus on:

• Education
• Experience
• Skills
• Projects
• Certifications
• Achievements

Salary can be discussed later during the hiring process.

Using Too Much Jargon or Clichés

Using too many complicated words can make your resume difficult to understand.

Common words such as "hardworking," "self-motivated," "team player," and "go-getter" are used by many candidates.

Instead of simply using these words, show them through your work and achievements.

For example, instead of saying you are "results-oriented," explain what result you achieved in a project.

Real examples are more useful than general statements.

Listing Irrelevant Hobbies

Your resume has limited space, so use it carefully.

You do not need to include every hobby you have.

Only mention hobbies if they are related to the job or show a useful skill.

For example, if you are applying for a writing job, writing or content-related activities may be useful to mention.

Give more space to your education, skills, certifications, projects, experience, and achievements.

Adding a Photo Unnecessarily

A photo is not required for most professional resumes unless the company specifically asks for one or it is common in that industry.

Instead of using space for a photo, focus on information that shows your skills and experience.

Your qualifications, skills, certifications, projects, and achievements should be the main focus of your resume.

Mislabeling the Resume File

The name of your resume file may look like a small thing, but it is better to keep it clear and professional.

Avoid names such as:

resume.pdf
newresume.pdf
resume_final2.pdf

Instead, use:

YourName_Resume.pdf

For example:

Diptesh_Singha_Resume.pdf

A clear file name makes it easier for recruiters to identify your resume.

Writing Duties Instead of Results

Another common mistake is only writing about your daily tasks without explaining the result.

For example:

Duty-focused:
"Created social media posts."

Result-focused:
"Planned and created social media content to improve audience engagement and brand visibility."

The second example gives more information about the purpose of the work.

Whenever possible, add numbers and results such as:

• Traffic growth
• Leads generated
• Sales increase
• Projects completed
• Engagement growth
• Revenue generated

This makes your resume more useful and shows the value of your work.

How to Create an ATS Friendly Resume

An ATS Friendly Resume is designed in a simple format that makes it easier for Applicant Tracking Systems to read the information.

Many companies use ATS software to scan resumes and find information related to a job description.

To create an ATS Friendly Resume:

• Use simple headings such as Skills, Education, Experience, and Certifications.
• Add relevant keywords from the job description.
• Use clear and simple formatting.
• Avoid too many graphics, icons, and complicated designs.
• Use standard fonts that are easy to read.
• Make sure your job titles and dates are clear.
• Check your resume for spelling mistakes.

An ATS Friendly Resume should still be easy for a real recruiter to read.

How a Free Online Resume Maker Can Help

Creating a resume from the beginning can be difficult, especially for freshers.

A Free Online Resume Maker can help you create a resume using ready-made layouts and sections. You can add information such as your education, skills, work experience, projects, and certifications.

It can save time and help you maintain a clean format.

However, a resume maker only helps with the design and structure. You are still responsible for adding correct and useful information.

Before downloading or submitting your resume, check:

• Contact details
• Spelling and grammar
• Education details
• Work experience
• Skills
• Dates
• Job-related keywords
• File name

A clean design is useful, but good and relevant content is more important.

Conclusion

A good resume should do more than list your education and previous jobs. It should clearly show your skills, experience, achievements, and strengths.

Avoid common mistakes such as using a weak resume objective, adding unrelated experience, listing unnecessary skills, using old contact details, adding irrelevant information, and only describing your duties instead of your results.

If you are creating a resume for the first time, a Free Online Resume Maker can help you create a simple and organised format. You can also use it to prepare an ATS Friendly Resume that is easier for Applicant Tracking Systems to read.

Remember to customise your resume for each job, use relevant keywords, and check everything carefully before submitting it.

For freshers and job seekers, a good resume is an important part of becoming job-ready. Along with a good resume, having practical skills in accounting, finance, taxation, and business software can help you prepare for different career opportunities.

If you want to build practical accounting and finance skills, Certified Corporate Accounting can help you learn important areas of accounting and corporate finance.

If you are interested in financial software and business finance, SAP FICO (Finance & Controlling) can help you understand financial and controlling processes.

You can also improve your tax knowledge through Taxation (Income Tax & GST).

A good resume helps you explain what you know and what you have achieved. When you combine a well-written ATS Friendly Resume with practical skills, you can present your profile more clearly when applying for your next job.