Most entry-level resumes are not rejected because the candidate is unqualified. They are rejected because a recruiter could not quickly see why the candidate fits, or because a small mistake created doubt. The good news is that the most common errors are easy to fix once you know where to look.
Use this list as a final check before you hit “submit”.
1. A vague or missing summary
The problem: the top of the resume says “Hard-working individual seeking opportunities” or nothing at all.
The fix: write a two- or three-line summary that names the job you want and your strongest relevant evidence. See resume summary vs objective for examples.
2. Duties instead of achievements
The problem: bullets read like a job description: “Responsible for stocking shelves.”
The fix: start with an action verb and show what you did and the result or scale: “Restocked and organized 6 aisles each shift, keeping shelves full during peak hours.” Our list of action verbs with examples helps.
3. Ignoring non-work experience
The problem: the resume has an empty or tiny experience section because the candidate only counted paid jobs.
The fix: add projects, volunteering, leadership roles and informal work under “Relevant Experience”. Read how to put volunteer work and projects on a resume.
4. One resume for every job
The problem: the same generic resume is sent to an admin role, a sales role and a data role.
The fix: keep a master resume and spend 20 minutes adapting the summary, bullets and skills for each posting with our tailoring method.
5. Formatting that confuses software
The problem: a two-column template with icons, skill bars and contact details in the header.
The fix: use a simple one-column layout and test it with the plain-text method in our ATS checklist.
6. Too long, or padded
The problem: two pages for a beginner, filled with every course and award since high school.
The fix: keep it to one page. Choose the most relevant items for this job and cut the rest. White space makes a resume easier to scan.
7. Typos and inconsistent details
The problem: spelling errors, inconsistent date formats, different fonts or bullet styles.
The fix: proofread slowly, read it aloud, and check one detail at a time: all dates, then all titles, then all punctuation. Ask someone else to review it. Spell-checkers miss correctly spelled wrong words (“manger” for “manager”).
8. An unprofessional email address or missing contact details
The problem: an email like partyking99@… or a phone number with a full voicemail box.
The fix: create a simple firstname.lastname address, record a neutral voicemail greeting and check your spam folder regularly during your search.
9. Unverifiable or exaggerated claims
The problem: “Expert in Excel”, “fluent in five languages”, or a job title upgraded from “volunteer” to “manager”.
The fix: describe skills precisely (“Excel: formulas, filters, pivot tables”) and keep titles accurate. Interviewers test claims, and background checks verify dates and titles. Exaggeration that is discovered can cost you an offer.
10. Personal details that do not belong
The problem: date of birth, marital status, photo (in countries where it is not expected), full home address or ID numbers.
The fix: in the US, UK and many other markets, leave these out. Name, city, phone, email and LinkedIn are enough. Never put government ID numbers on a resume.
11. Listing soft skills with no proof
The problem: a skills section full of “Teamwork, Communication, Leadership”.
The fix: prove soft skills inside your bullets and keep the skills list for concrete tools and abilities. Our guide on transferable skills explains how.
12. A file name or format that creates friction
The problem: “resume_final_FINAL2.docx” with tracked changes or comments still visible.
The fix: export a clean PDF named Firstname-Lastname-Resume.pdf, unless the employer requests Word. Open the exported file to confirm it looks right.
A five-minute final check
Before sending, ask yourself:
- Can someone tell what job I want within five seconds?
- Does every bullet start with a verb and show a result or scale?
- Does the resume use the posting’s key terms honestly?
- Is it one page, consistent and typo-free?
- Would I be comfortable explaining every line in an interview?
If you can answer yes to all five, send it. Then log it in your job search tracker and move on to the next application. If you are starting from scratch, our complete guide to writing a resume with no experience walks you through each section.