Friday, September 26, 2025

Avoid Making Common Mistakes in Your Resume

 Written by Fabiola Almazan Duarte Employment Counsellor

Just remember a good resume can land you a job interview, as the first impression matters. Your resume is often the first document an employer review. Errors can make you appear careless or unprofessional. Mistakes such as poor formatting, spelling errors, or irrelevant details distract from your qualifications and make it harder for employers to see your strengths.

Many employers use ATS software to screen resumes. Incorrect keywords, formatting issues, or missing details can cause your resume to be filtered out before a human even sees it. Inaccuracies or inconsistencies (like incorrect dates or job titles) can raise red flags and cause employers to question the reliability of your application. Employers often receive dozens or even hundreds of applications. A clean, targeted resume free of mistakes helps you stand out and keeps the focus on your skills and experience.

Avoiding common mistakes shows professionalism, increases your chances of passing initial screenings, and helps you clearly demonstrate why you’re the right fit for the job.

What application screeners will spot:

Keywords

Many companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to screen resumes. These tracking systems scan for keywords. If your resume doesn’t include the keywords the ATS is looking for, it will be rejected.

Layout

Your resume will also be rejected if it can’t be read by an ATS. Keep your layout simple. Don’t use columns, fancy bullet points, or visuals of any kind.

What hiring managers will spot:

A generic approach

If you really want to get a job, your resume can’t be generic. Hiring managers will know at a glance if you’ve done your research. They want to see that you’ve listed the specific education, skills, and experience they’re looking for.

Gaps in your work history

Gaps in your work history can be a red flag for hiring managers. Be sure you are ready to explain them.

Exaggeration and dishonesty

Hiring managers have seen enough resumes to know when something doesn’t ring true. Exaggerating your qualifications won’t do you any favor.

Typos and spelling or grammar mistakes

It may seem like a little thing, but typos and grammatical errors can send your resume to the reject pile right away. Hiring managers see them as a sign that you’re careless or not serious about the job.

Dos and Don’ts in your resume:

1. Do tailor your resume for each job

If you’re looking for work, you should have a master resume that lists everything about you—your experience, training, achievements, skills, awards, references, and more. Your master resume is the full meal deal. But that’s not what employers want to see. They want to know if you have the specific skills and experience they need.

2. Do watch your language

Use strong action words to show what you can do. Here are some examples: generated, maximized, streamlined, managed, expanded, organized, spearheaded.

Use clear, direct language and standard headings that ATS software will recognize. For example, use “contact information” rather than “find me here.” Use “skills” rather than “what I can do.”

3. Do focus on your accomplishments, not your job duties

Employers want to know what you’re good at, not just what you can do. Pick out your most impressive accomplishments. Use specific details to describe them. Back up your claims with solid facts. For example, don’t just say you “worked on a marketing campaign.” Use action words and hard data to show what you achieved. Say you “spearheaded a new marketing strategy that brought in 700 new customers” or “increased market share by 160%.”

4.Do keep your resume short

Your resume is not your life story. Unless you’re looking for work in college or university—or you have more than 20 years of experience—it should never be longer than a page or 2. Only include information that’s directly relevant to the job you’re applying for. Highlight the right skills and any special ones that set you apart from the competition.

5. Do make your resume ATS friendly

Use appropriate keywords. If an employer’s ATS software doesn’t find the right keywords in your resume, you’ll never land a job interview. For a list of keywords to use, please follow this website: https://alis.alberta.ca/look-for-work/resumes-and-references/choose-power-words-to-make-your-resume-stand-out/

So how do you figure out what keywords to use?

The first and best place to find keywords is in the job description itself.

1. Don’t include a photo of yourself on your resume

Photos on resumes are acceptable in some countries. In Canada and the United States, including a photo is considered unprofessional. It can open you up to discrimination, and it may lower your chances of getting a job.

2. Don’t use buzzwords

Buzzwords like hard-working, ambitious, results-driven, and team player are overused and can make your resume sound boring and unoriginal. Instead of buzzwords, use action words to describe unique skills that you can back with experience. For example, instead of calling yourself a “go-getter,” use a bullet point that says, "designed new software that streamlined the purchasing experience and saved the company $500,000.”

3. Don’t list obvious skills and irrelevant experiences

Listings skills that everyone has—like knowing how to use a cellphone—is a waste of valuable space. So is listing skills and experiences that don’t relate to the job you’re applying for. Tailor your resume to what the employer is looking for and show why you’re the best person for the job.

4. Don’t lie on your resume

This should go without saying, but you should never, ever lie on your resume. It’s one of the most serious resume mistakes you can make. If your resume claims you’re an expert on something, make sure that’s true. If it isn’t, you’ll be found out—sooner or later. And you may find yourself fired.

5. Don’t list references

List your references on your mast resume so they’re handy when you need them. But don’t list references on the tailored resume that you submit to a hiring manager. You don’t even need to say, “references available upon request.” If an employer is seriously considering hiring you, they’ll ask you for references.

Get your resume reviewed by a pro. Visit the Youth Employment Centre's team of expert employer counsellors. Those ages 15-24 can drop into the Alberta Trade Centre (315 10 Ave S.E.). No appointed needed. Visit calgary.ca/yec for up-to-date hours and full services.  


Sources: 

Government of Alberta. https://alis.alberta.ca/