{"id":2947,"date":"2013-05-22T14:05:40","date_gmt":"2013-05-22T14:05:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.resumetarget.com\/blog\/?p=2947"},"modified":"2026-03-01T21:08:31","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T03:08:31","slug":"19-warning-signs-your-resume-stinks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.resumetarget.com\/blog\/19-warning-signs-your-resume-stinks\/","title":{"rendered":"19 Warning Signs Your Resume Stinks"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"rt-takeaways\">\n<h2 class=\"rt-takeaways__title\">Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"rt-takeaways__list\">\n<li>19 Warning Signs Your Resume Stinks requires strategic career positioning to maximize impact.<\/li>\n<li>Understanding industry-specific expectations helps align your background with employer requirements.<\/li>\n<li>Professional guidance in this area often yields measurable improvements in career outcomes.<\/li>\n<li>Thoughtful application of these principles differentiates you from candidates who neglect these details.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><b>Now most of you aren\u2019t in professions where you view resumes on a daily basis,<\/b> so just take our word for it \u2013 the majority of resumes out there, are terrible. We hear the same sentiments from recruiters and hiring managers; most people just don\u2019t know how to write a good resume.<\/p>\n<p>We spend a lot of time on this blog telling you what you should do to improve your resume and your job search strategy, but now we\u2019re going to take some time to tell you what you shouldn\u2019t do &#8211; because you&#8217;re probably already doing it.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ve outlined 19 of our biggest pet peeves on resumes. This list outlines red flags and common mistakes that have stopped your resume from being short-listed. Even if you think your resume is pretty alright, keep reading, we know you\u2019ve made at least one of these errors.<\/p>\n<p>Now let\u2019s get started, we\u2019ve got a long list to get through.<\/p>\n<h3>1. No formatting <\/h3>\n<p>Before the hiring manager reads a single word on your resume, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.resumetarget.com\/blog\/how-to-excel-at-resume-formatting\/\">they see your format<\/a>. The problem is, with many resumes, there\u2019s no format to look at.<\/p>\n<p>If you don\u2019t have so much as a bold line under your contact information and separated sections of experience and education, you basically haven\u2019t tried. You opened a new document and just started typing without paying any attention to the visual presentation of your resume!<\/p>\n<h3>2. Contact information<\/h3>\n<p>First of all, have you even included your contact information at the top of your resume? Seems like a silly question, but we\u2019ve seen resumes that lack even these basic details. If you did include your contact information, did you include the right information?<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.resumetarget.com\/blog\/what-your-contact-information-says-about-you\/\">Your contact information says more about you than you think.<\/a> Ensure you have a local address, a professional email address and one personal phone number listed.<\/p>\n<h3>3. No title<\/h3>\n<p>Your resume needs a title! A title will eliminate the ambiguity of what role you are applying for. In one line you can sum up your qualifications and your intentions. We always recommend including the title of the position you are applying for, as well as the title of your current position.<\/p>\n<h3>4. Objective statement<\/h3>\n<p>An <a href=\"https:\/\/www.resumetarget.com\/blog\/what-objective-statements-really-mean-and-why-they-dont-work\/\">objective statement<\/a> is pass\u00e9 and does not conform to current resume standards.<\/p>\n<p>An objective statement is telling the Hiring Manager what you want out of the role. To be frank, the Hiring Manager does not care about what you want; they care about whether or not you\u2019ll be a good fit for the role. Therefore, you should eliminate your objective and instead discuss the value you will bring to the role.<\/p>\n<h3>5. Lack of customization<\/h3>\n<p>If you are using the same resume for multiple positions, the Hiring Manager can tell. In order to increase your chances of being noticed, you must customize the keywords and introduction of your resume to suit each individual role.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re not taking the time to customize your resume, you can bet that someone else is, and they are getting the call-backs.<\/p>\n<h3>6. No keywords<\/h3>\n<p>If your resume doesn\u2019t have a keyword section, you are basically doomed. If a Hiring Manager is personally reading (skimming) your resume, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.resumetarget.com\/blog\/determining-the-keywords-your-resume-needs-to-dominate-your-competition\/\">they will be looking for keywords<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Many times, you have to pass a keyword scanning system in order to get to the Hiring Manager. If keywords are not present on your resume, you can count yourself out for that job opportunity. You should be including the keywords present in the job posting, as you know that is what employers will be looking for.<\/p>\n<h3>7. Ignoring requests<\/h3>\n<p>Follow instructions! If the employer asks for a two-page resume, don\u2019t send them five pages.<\/p>\n<p>If they ask for a PDF file, don\u2019t send them a Word document. Nothing will make you look worse than your inability to follow simple instructions. This is a dead giveaway of your work ethic, and Hiring Managers will not be impressed.<\/p>\n<h3>8. First person<\/h3>\n<p>Resumes are never written in the first person. Didn\u2019t we all learn this in high school?<\/p>\n<p>A big reason for this is the constant repetition of \u201cI-phrases\u201d throughout the resume. Imagine reading multiple resumes a day, each with the same \u201cI did this\u201d and \u201cI did that\u201d phrases. The boredom would be overwhelming.<\/p>\n<h3>9. Job descriptions<\/h3>\n<p>We get it, nobody likes writing a resume so they try to find an easy way to get it done quick. Many people resort to copying and pasting their job description into the resume. This is the worst idea.<\/p>\n<p>The job description is a generic list of tasks that the person is required to do. That means, that anyone who fulfills this role, will be required to complete these tasks. There is no originality, no achievements and no contributions.<\/p>\n<h3>10.\u00a0Length<\/h3>\n<p>Resumes that go over two pages in length, are never as strong as resumes that maintain two pages or less.<\/p>\n<p>Your resume is guaranteed to be viewed by more Hiring Managers and Recruiters if you stay within the two-page mark. Exceeding this limit means that you are unable to be concise and pinpoint your strongest achievements.<\/p>\n<h3>11.\u00a0Lack of examples<\/h3>\n<p>You can tell the Hiring Manager that you did all kinds of amazing things, but without the description of examples, it all just sounds like fluff.<\/p>\n<p>Examples are a great way to show the Hiring Manager what you\u2019re capable of, instead of telling them. This will resonate much stronger with the reader.<\/p>\n<h3>12. No numbers<\/h3>\n<p>Along with examples comes proof. If you tell a Hiring Manager that you increased sales year-over-year, but don\u2019t bother saying how much you increased sales by \u2013 there\u2019s no proof.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.resumetarget.com\/blog\/3-reasons-why-you-should-add-numbers-to-your-resume\/\">Your numbers<\/a> quantify your achievements and catch the Hiring Manager\u2019s attention.<\/p>\n<h3>13. Gaps in employment <\/h3>\n<p>If you\u2019ve left off certain positions in the experience section of your resume, this is a red flag to Hiring Managers and Recruiters.<\/p>\n<p>What are you trying to hide? A gap in employment is never a good thing, you must tell the reader what you were doing in that time. If it was Maternity Leave or if it was a Personal Sabbatical, the Hiring Manager needs a brief explanation. If you leave it unknown, you will not be shortlisted.<\/p>\n<h3>14. Company synopsis<\/h3>\n<p>A popular trend is to include a short company synopsis for each company you\u2019ve worked for. This is not a bad idea, however you must integrate yourself into that synopsis.<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t tell the Hiring Manager how great your former employer was, tell them how great they were due to your contributions and involvement.<\/p>\n<h3>15. Repetition<\/h3>\n<p>When restricted to a two-page limit, why would you waste space repeating yourself?<\/p>\n<p>If you completed similar tasks in multiple roles, mention them once under the most recent role, and leave it be. Do not copy the exact same line under each role because the Hiring Manager already understands that you have that capability. Use that space to tell them something new.<\/p>\n<h3>16. Dates<\/h3>\n<p>Be specific with your dates! We\u2019ve already mentioned several times that ambiguity will never help you on a resume.<\/p>\n<p>If you were in a contract role for only three months, make that clear on the resume. If you simply list the year with no timeframe, you look like you have something to hide. Include the month and year that you entered each role, along with the month and year that you left each role.<\/p>\n<h3>17. Functional resume<\/h3>\n<p>If you\u2019ve chosen to use a functional resume and listed all of your different skill-sets at the top of your resume, you will not be shortlisted. There is nothing more frustrating than a functional resume.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s great that you\u2019ve told the Hiring Manager how diverse and adaptable your skills are, however they want to know when you obtained these skills and under what context.<\/p>\n<h3>18. Academic details <\/h3>\n<p>Education sections generally lack one of two pieces of information. Either the candidate includes the name of the school they attended, but neglected to include the course or program name. Or they included the course or program name, but did not include the school\u2019s name.<\/p>\n<p>Your academic details are not complete without both pieces of information.<\/p>\n<h3>19. References<\/h3>\n<p>You can easily date yourself by including your references at the bottom of your resume. This is an incredibly outdated practice in the world of resume writing.<\/p>\n<p>Another common mistake is including \u201cReferences Available Upon Request\u201d at the bottom of your resume. Requesting references is no longer an option for employers, it is a requirement. Therefore, letting them know that your references are available upon request is simply redundant.<\/p>\n<h3>Conclusion<\/h3>\n<p>If you got through this entire list of 19 warning signs and you are not guilty of committing a single one of these mistakes\u2026 well then you\u2019re probably already gainfully employed and not looking for work. For the rest of you, examine your resumes and get rid of these mistakes.<\/p>\n<p><!--<i>Not sure how? <\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.resumetarget.com\/contact\"><i>Talk to one of our career strategists<\/i><\/a><i> and they will be happy to help! <\/i>--><\/p>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-xl-8 offset-xl-2 col-lg-10 offset-lg-1 col-md-12 mb-3 mb-sm-0\">\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-xl-8 offset-xl-2 col-lg-10 offset-lg-1 col-md-12 mb-3 mb-sm-0\">\n<h2 class=\"text-center\">\n     Get job search ready <b>fast<\/b><br \/>\n     <\/h2>\n<p class=\"text-center\">Open new career opportunities with our professional resume writing services.<\/p>\n<div class=\"text-center\">\n             <a href=\"https:\/\/www.resumetarget.com\/packages-and-prices.php\" class=\"btn btn-md\">Get started<br \/>\n             <span class=\"ic-arrow-right-white\"><\/span><br \/>\n             <\/a>\n          <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways 19 Warning Signs Your Resume Stinks requires strategic career positioning to maximize impact. Understanding industry-specific expectations helps align your background with employer requirements. Professional guidance in this area<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":4712,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[25],"class_list":["post-2947","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-resume-help","tag-resume-writing"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.0 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>19 Warning Signs Your Resume Stinks<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"19 of our biggest pet peeves on resumes that are prohibiting your resume from reaching the shortlist of candidates. 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