How NOT to Write a Resume: Common Mistakes to Avoid

Learning how to write a resume is a skill that can make or break your job search. While most people focus on what to include, it’s just as important to understand what not to include. Many outdated practices and common missteps can leave your resume looking unprofessional or irrelevant. Here’s how to avoid those mistakes and create a resume that stands out for all the right reasons.

1. Don’t Include a Photo of Yourself

It might feel tempting to make your resume more personal by adding a photo, but this is generally discouraged unless specifically requested. Most companies are focused on your skills and experience, not your appearance.

Why This Matters: Including a photo can even cause issues with certain AI screening tools that aren’t designed to process images. Focus on the content, not the visuals.

2. Skip Your Full Address

Your address is no longer necessary on a resume. Simply listing your city and country is enough.

Why This Matters: Including your full address is outdated and unnecessary. Hiring managers don’t need your exact address, and sharing it could even be a privacy risk.

3. Leave Out Irrelevant Hobbies & Interests

You may love dogs, gardening, and football, but unless your hobbies are directly relevant to the job, they don’t belong on your resume.

Why This Matters: Your resume should be focused on your qualifications, skills, and experience. Discuss your interests during the interview if they come up naturally.

4. Keep It Short and Concise

Your resume should be 1-2 pages long at most. If you’re just starting your career, a one-page resume is ideal. For more experienced professionals, two pages are acceptable if absolutely necessary.

Why This Matters: Recruiters spend an average of 6-10 seconds scanning a resume. Multiple pages filled with unnecessary details will only hurt your chances.

5. Avoid Including Outdated Experience

That summer job you had 20 years ago probably isn’t relevant anymore. Keep your experience limited to the last 10–15 years, especially if it’s relevant to the position you’re applying for.

Why This Matters: Highlighting outdated experience makes your resume look cluttered and unfocused. Focus on recent achievements that align with the job description.

6. Ditch the Paragraphs — Use Bullet Points Instead

Using long paragraphs to describe your job duties is a huge mistake. Instead, use bullet points to break down your experience into easily digestible pieces.

Why This Matters: Bullet points are easier to read and skim. They also allow you to highlight key accomplishments quickly and effectively.

7. Remove the Fluff

Phrases like “hard-working” and “motivated” are overused and meaningless without proof. Instead of using generic descriptions, provide concrete examples of your achievements.

Example: Instead of saying, “I’m a hard-working individual,” say, “Increased sales by 30% in one year through targeted marketing strategies.”

8. Tailor Your Resume for Each Type of Job

Applying for different types of positions? You need a different resume for each type of job, not for each application.

Why This Matters: Many companies use AI screening tools to filter resumes. These tools scan for specific keywords and phrases found in the job posting. If your resume doesn’t include these keywords, it may never be seen by a human recruiter.

For example, if you’re in IT and applying for help desk, network technician, and developer roles, you should have three different resumes.

• Help Desk Resume: Focus on how you have assisted team members and solved user issues.

• Network Technician Resume: Highlight your experience with networking systems, troubleshooting, and maintenance.

• Developer Resume: emphasise your development projects, programming skills, and relevant technologies.

9. Use AI Tools to Help You Write Your Resume

Creating a resume from scratch can be daunting. Luckily, there are fantastic tools like Enhancv and other AI-assisted platforms that can guide you through the process.

How to Use AI Tools Effectively:

• Find a job posting for the role you’re interested in.

• Analyse the keywords used in the job description.

• Tailor your resume to highlight relevant skills and experience using those keywords.

• Use AI tools to format your resume professionally.

10. Forgetting to List Your Language Proficiency

Especially in roles where communication is critical, neglecting to mention your language skills is a big mistake.

Why This Matters: Being bilingual or multilingual can be a valuable asset, so make sure to include your proficiency level for each language.

11. Focus on Professionalism and Relevance

Your resume is your chance to make a strong first impression. Stick to the essentials:

• Contact Information: Name, phone number, email, LinkedIn profile.

• Professional Summary: A brief introduction highlighting your skills and goals.

• Work Experience: Relevant jobs from the last 10-15 years, with bullet points detailing achievements.

• Education: Highest qualifications first.

• Skills: Relevant skills tailored to the job description.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to write a resume effectively means knowing what to leave out. Avoiding these common mistakes will help your resume stand out to recruiters and pass those AI screening tools with flying colours. Remember: Your resume is a marketing tool, not an autobiography. Make every word count!