Recruiters spend an average of 6 to 10 seconds scanning a resume. They aren't reading; they are hunting for reasons to say "No".
It sounds unfair, but when you have 500 applicants for one role, elimination is the only way to manage the volume. Make sure you aren't filtered out for these avoidable mistakes.
The "Unprofessional" Email
If your contact email involves a nickname, numbers like "69", or referencing a hobby (e.g., surfer_dude99@aol.com), you are out. Use firstname.lastname@gmail.com.
Typos and Poor Grammar
77% of hiring managers instantly disqualify a resume with typos. It screams "I lack attention to detail."
Massive Blocks of Text
No one is going to read a 10-line paragraph. If it isn't bulleted, it doesn't get read. Keep bullets under 2 lines each.
Generic Objectives
"Looking for a challenging role to utilize my skills." Boring. Waste of space. Replace it with a "Professional Summary" that highlights your specific achievements.
Irrelevant Hobbies
Unless "Walking my dog" is relevant to the job of a Veterinarian, leave it off. Use that space for skills or projects.
Unexplained Employment Gaps
Gaps happen, but hiding them looks suspicious. If you took a year off to study or travel, say so. Don't leave dates open to interpretation.
Listing Tasks Instead of Results
Tasks: "Responsible for sales." (Boring)
Results: "Increased sales by 20% in Q3." (Hired!)
Wild Formatting
Neon colors, 4 different fonts, charts that don't make sense. Creativity is good; chaos is bad. Stick to clean, professional layouts.
Including a Photo (In the US/UK)
In the US, UK, and Canada, photos can lead to discrimination claims, so HR often deletes resumes with photos immediately. (Note: In Europe/Asia, photos are fine).
Lying
Don't rate your Spanish "Fluent" if you can only order a beer. Background checks are real, and getting caught in a lie is a career-ender.
How to Scan Your Resume for Flags
It's hard to spot your own mistakes. Use CVScanner to run an automated audit of your resume. It will flag formatting errors, missing keywords, and "red flag" phrases instantly.