Your resume is not a historical document; it’s a marketing tool. In the competitive freelance and remote job market, recruiters and hiring managers spend less than ten seconds on an initial scan. If your document doesn’t immediately communicate value, it gets filtered out.
Here are the five most critical resume mistakes freelancers and job seekers make that are instantly sinking their applications—and how you can fix them.
1. The Generic Default (The Un-Tailored Resume)
This is the number one killer of job applications. Submitting the exact same resume to every single job post shows a clear lack of effort and understanding of the role. A generic resume speaks to no one, and therefore, it gets ignored by everyone.
- The Fix: Treat every application as a unique project. Tailor your “Professional Summary” to directly address the job description’s top 3-4 keywords and required skills. If the job calls for “SEO Strategy,” make sure “SEO Strategy” is prominent in your summary and experience.
2. Focus on Duties, Not Dollars
Most people list what they did in a role. Hiring managers want to know what you achieved. They don’t want to read a list of job duties; they want proof that hiring you will solve their problems and bring value (usually financial value).
- The Fix: Use the “Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y] by doing [Z]” formula. Replace passive duties with active, results-oriented metrics.
3. The Wall of Text (Poor Readability)
A resume that is hard to read is a resume that won’t be read. Recruiters are looking for easily digestible information. Cramming too much text, using tiny fonts, or having large paragraphs creates a dense “wall of text” that scanner systems (ATS) and human eyes alike reject.
- The Fix: Prioritize white space. Use bullet points (no more than five per role), keep sentences concise, and stick to a clean, professional font size (10-12pt). A well-structured layout guides the reader’s eye to your best accomplishments.
4. Burying the Lead (Irrelevant Information)
Are you an experienced developer still including your high school graduation or irrelevant hobbies? Every section of your resume should justify its existence by supporting your candidacy for the role you’re applying for today.
- The Fix: Ruthlessly edit. Remove anything older than 10-15 years unless it’s critical to the current role. Remove generic “interests” and replace them with relevant skills, software proficiency, or portfolio links. Your resume is limited real estate—use it for high-value content only.
5. The Instant Deal-Breaker (Typos and Errors)
Spelling and grammatical mistakes signal a lack of attention to detail, which is a red flag for any employer. Even if your job isn’t writing, a typo suggests carelessness under pressure.
- The Fix: Proofread, proofread, proofread. Don’t rely solely on spell-check. Read the document backward, read it out loud, and, most importantly, have a second pair of professional eyes review it before you click send.
Don’t let these simple, correctable mistakes keep you from landing the interview. Your experience is valuable – your resume just needs to prove it.
Ready to polish your professional narrative and ensure your CV is speaking the language of success? DM us to talk about how we can help you stand out from the stack.
