In today’s competitive job market, having the right skills is not enough. If your resume isn’t presented the right way, it can easily be rejected — even before a human sees it.
At 24 Billions, we review hundreds of resumes every month. And we’ve noticed that many candidates make the same small but critical mistakes. These mistakes may seem minor, but they can be the reason why you’re not getting interview calls.
Here are the 5 most common resume mistakes and how you can avoid them.
1. Using the Same Resume for Every Job
What’s Wrong:
Most candidates create one resume and send it to every company without any changes.
Why It Hurts You:
Recruiters and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are looking for specific keywords and skills that match the job description. A generic resume often doesn’t align with what the employer is looking for.
What to Do Instead:
Customize your resume for each job application. Update your summary, skills, and experience bullets to match the job requirements. This shows that you’ve read the job description and are genuinely interested.
2. Writing Responsibilities Instead of Achievements
What’s Wrong:
Many resumes simply list what the candidate was responsible for, without showing any results or achievements.
Why It Hurts You:
Recruiters want to see what impact you made in your previous roles, not just what your duties were.
What to Do Instead:
Focus on measurable results. For example, instead of writing:
“Handled social media for the company”
Write:
“Increased social media engagement by 40% in six months by implementing a new content strategy.”
3. Poor Formatting and Design
What’s Wrong:
Using templates with multiple columns, images, icons, or fancy fonts may look good visually but are often not compatible with ATS.
Why It Hurts You:
Most companies use ATS to filter resumes before they reach HR. If your resume has complex formatting, the system may not read it properly — and your resume may never get seen.
What to Do Instead:
Use a clean, single-column format with standard fonts like Arial or Calibri. Save your resume as a .docx or text-based PDF. Avoid using tables, text boxes, or graphics.
You can download free ATS-friendly templates from 24 Billions that are already optimized.
4. Weak or Missing Summary Section
What’s Wrong:
Many resumes either skip the summary section or use a vague statement like “Hardworking and dedicated professional.”
Why It Hurts You:
The summary section is the first thing a recruiter reads. If it doesn’t catch their attention or clearly show what you do, they may skip the rest of your resume.
What to Do Instead:
Write a short, tailored summary that highlights your role, years of experience, key strengths, and the type of value you bring.
Example:
“Sales executive with 5+ years of experience in B2B software sales, consistently exceeding targets and leading client acquisition strategies.”
5. Grammatical Errors and Typos
What’s Wrong:
Spelling mistakes, inconsistent tense, and poor grammar can quickly reduce the professionalism of your resume.
Why It Hurts You:
It gives the impression that you lack attention to detail — which is a red flag for most roles.
What to Do Instead:
Always proofread your resume multiple times. Use tools like Grammarly, and if possible, have someone else review it before you submit.
Final Thoughts
Your resume is your first impression. Even if you have the right experience and skills, small mistakes can stop you from getting noticed. Fixing these common errors can significantly improve your chances of landing interviews.
At 24 Billions, we provide ATS-optimized resume templates and practical tips to help job seekers like you stand out.
If you’re serious about your career, make sure your resume reflects your true potential — not just your past responsibilities.