Resume mistakes: how to fix them
The mistakes that hurt a resume most are rarely difficult words. They are wrong contact details, sentences that say nothing, information unrelated to the job and a document no one reviewed from start to finish.
5-minute readUpdated on 19.10.2026
In this guide
1. Writing vague sentences
“Responsible”, “dynamic” and “good communication” do not explain what you did. Replace loose qualities with tasks, context, tools and results you can confirm.
Says little
«Responsible professional with good communication skills.»
Says more
«In-person and telephone service, recording requests in a CRM and following complaints through to resolution.»
Why: The second version shows channels, tools and responsibility. The first could belong to any application.
Emily Carter · Administrative assistant
Experience
Operations assistant
Northway Logistics · London
2023 — present
- Tracked customer orders from entry to delivery.
- Organised shared documents and spreadsheets.
- Worked daily with a six-person team.
2. Including too much information
A resume does not improve by having more lines. A full address, document numbers, marital status, unrelated courses and repeated tasks take the place of relevant evidence.
Says little
«Responsible for customer service, telephone service and in-person customer service.»
Says more
«In-person and telephone customer service, recording and following up requests.»
Why: The corrected version combines repeated tasks and uses the space to explain the extent of the responsibility.
3. Leaving dates and facts inconsistent
Contradictory dates, different names for the same role and language levels that change between documents create unnecessary doubt. Compare the resume, letter and application form.
4. Making the resume hard to read
Type that is too small, inconsistent alignment, long lists and unbalanced columns force the reader to search for information. Use a consistent hierarchy and leave space between sections.
Says little
«Excel 90% · English 80% · Communication 95%»
Says more
«Excel (tables and charts) · English B2 · In-person and telephone service»
Why: Percentages have no common measure. Recognisable tasks and levels show what you can do.
5. Sending the wrong file
“Final document 2.pdf” does not help identify the application. Use your name, open the PDF after export and check that no pages are missing, links work and you chose the right version.
6. Doing only a quick review
Two-pass review
- First, check contact details, dates, names and links.
- Then read only headings, roles and first lines.
- Look for repeated words and sentences that add no facts.
- Compare the resume with the advert’s priorities.
- Open the PDF on a second screen or device.
- Ask someone else to explain the career path they understood.
Start your resume.
Apply these tips in the ArrobaCV editor. This guide does not change your data, and opening the editor does not automatically import the examples in this article. A watermarked PDF is free and needs no account. Exporting without a watermark or in Word requires an account and paid access.