Recruiters primarily evaluate your resume to understand: are you meticulous or not, systematic or not, can you express your thoughts clearly and concisely or not. Because the way you present your thoughts on paper is likely how you work. They spend no more than 10 seconds reading it.
1. Resume Bloat (Overly Long Resume)
The Problem: A 7-8 page resume describing every minor detail from your work history.
Why This Is Bad:
- No one reads 10-page dissertations
- Recruiters don't dive into details with such volume
- Creates an impression of inability to structure information
How to Fix:
- Resume = 2 pages maximum, even if you have extensive experience
- In the US, the ideal resume should be no more than 1 page
- If you have less than 5 years of experience, you can easily fit everything on 1 page
- Ideal format — 2 pages maximum with 10-11pt font
2. Lack of Numbers and Concrete Results
The Problem: Describing only responsibilities without mentioning achievements.
Why This Is Bad:
- Responsibilities are roughly the same across all job postings in one profession
- No one really reads them
- Doesn't show that you can demonstrate results
How to Fix:
- Results are always numbers
- There are no professions where your work can't be converted into numbers, percentages, and results
- Recruiters value the effort you put into quantifying your achievements
- Don't have ten achievements, 3-5 maximum
3. Missing Keywords from Job Posting
The Problem: Resume doesn't contain terms and skills mentioned in the position description.
Why This Is Bad:
- Recruiters and systems search for keyword matches
- Reduces chances of being noticed among other candidates
How to Fix:
- Go to MonkeyLearn, paste the job description, and the word cloud will give you keywords
- These keywords should be in your resume: in skills, summary, achievements
- You can do the same in ChatGPT by writing the right prompt
4. Using Poor Resume Builders
The Problem: Using tools like Canva that aren't suitable for resumes.
Why This Is Bad:
- Circles, arrows, and squares take up space and provide no additional value
- Makes the resume harder to read
- May display incorrectly in different systems
How to Fix:
- The more boring and simple the resume, the better it reads
- Better to create resumes in Google Docs — more optimization options available
- Avoid graphic elements in favor of simplicity and readability
5. Irrelevant Information
The Problem: Inability to cut out irrelevant information from the resume.
Why This Is Bad:
- Distracts attention from important achievements
- Wonderful experience from 20 years ago interests no one
- Irrelevant experience (waiter when applying for brand manager) hurts impression
How to Fix:
- Remove very old, irrelevant work experience
- If you're currently an analyst, don't write about your waiter experience
- Remove 11 boring bullets about responsibilities
- Keep only the most important courses and projects valued in your industry
6. Career Change Courses on Resume
The Problem: Listing reskilling courses when applying for jobs in your current profession.
Why This Is Bad:
- Shows that in 3-6 months you plan to "bail" to another field
- Employers don't want someone just "holding over"
- Creates impression of uncertainty in plans
How to Fix:
- Remove reskilling courses from resume if looking for work in current profession
- Don't reveal your plans to change career fields
- Focus on development in your chosen direction
7. Poor Resume with Unclear Experience
The Problem: Resume so poor that it's unclear what you actually did.
Why This Is Bad:
- No one will figure out chronology if it's poorly described
- Resume is your mirror
- Company, position, and tenure aren't clearly visible
How to Fix:
- Clear and to the point, maximum two pages
- Everyone looks at company, your position there, and how long you worked there
- Focus on action verbs, numbers, results
8. Working at Unknown Companies
The Problem: Experience at companies like "LLC Daisy" that no one knows.
Why This Is Bad:
- Not niche companies widely known in their field, but no-name companies
- Reduces trust in candidate
- Makes it difficult to assess real experience
How to Fix:
- Describe in detail in your resume why you worked at specific places
- Detail achievements and project scale
- Compensate for company "unknownness" with concrete results
9. Lack of Proper Cover Letter
The Problem: Sending resume without quality cover letter or with formal phrases.
Why This Is Bad:
- "Good day, attaching resume for position" — such candidates can't find work for months
- Doesn't show motivation and interest
- Misses opportunity to stand out
How to Fix:
- Can't send the same cover letter everywhere
- Each job posting has its own keywords and triggers — find them
- Write personalized letters for each position
10. Poor Written Communication Skills
The Problem: Poor business correspondence with bureaucratic language or excessive familiarity.
Why This Is Bad:
- Russians fall into two extremes — either overly formal or overly familiar
- Texts reflect your work style
- Employer may not invite you due to communication style
How to Fix:
- Read Ilyakhov's book "New Rules of Business Correspondence"
- Avoid bureaucratic language and excessive formality
- Write simply, clearly, and to the point
Key Takeaways
Out of 10-12 thousand resumes reviewed, only about 100 (less than 1%) gave the impression of a systematic and attentive approach. This shows that by avoiding these basic mistakes, you'll already stand out favorably from the vast majority of candidates.
Remember:
- Resumes are read for no more than 10 seconds
- Systematic approach and attention to detail matter
- Brevity and structure are your main allies
- Every element should work in your favor
Use this article as a prompt to check your resume with AI
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