If you’ve been applying to jobs but aren’t hearing back, your resume might be the problem. At Resume Thrive, we help job seekers across the U.S. create powerful, professional resumes that get noticed — and it starts with avoiding the most common resume mistakes.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the top 10 resume mistakes people make, why they matter (especially in the U.S. job market), and how to fix them — so you can land the interviews you deserve.
Your resume is your first impression. Recruiters in the U.S. spend only 6–8 seconds scanning each resume — and if they don’t instantly see what they’re looking for, your application ends up in the “no” pile.
What’s worse? Around 75% of companies in the U.S. use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen resumes before they ever reach a human. So, even a strong resume with formatting issues can be auto-rejected.
This one may seem obvious, but it’s still one of the top resume killers.
Hiring managers view spelling or grammatical errors as a lack of attention to detail. In the U.S. job market, professionalism in communication is everything.
Use tools like Grammarly
Ask a friend or professional to proofread
Read it aloud to catch awkward phrasing
A cluttered, outdated, or overly designed resume can ruin your chances.
Inconsistent fonts, unaligned margins, or strange colors can confuse both ATS software and recruiters. In the U.S., clean, simple layouts work best.
Use modern resume templates (not Word 2003 styles)
Stick to clear fonts like Arial or Calibri
Avoid graphics, charts, or headshots
Submitting a generic resume to every job is a fast track to rejection.
U.S. companies rely on ATS to scan for job-specific keywords. If your resume doesn’t match the job description, it won’t make it through.
Tailor each resume to the job
Use the exact phrases from the job ad (e.g., “project management,” “data analysis”)
Include both soft and hard skills
Mentioning outdated jobs or unrelated hobbies takes up valuable space.
Recruiters only care about experience that’s relevant to the position. U.S. hiring culture values focus.
Limit experience to the last 10–15 years
Only include hobbies if they relate to the role or show leadership
Focus on achievements, not just responsibilities
In many countries, it’s standard to include a photo — but not in the U.S.
Most U.S. employers avoid resumes with photos due to equal opportunity laws. Including one can lead to automatic disqualification.
Never include a photo on a U.S. resume
Let your words, not your appearance, speak for your professionalism
Length matters.
Too short = not enough detail.
Too long = recruiters won’t read it.
The sweet spot for the U.S. is 1 page for early careers, and 2 pages max for experienced professionals.
Keep entries concise but impactful
Use bullet points
Trim older jobs or combine similar roles
Jumping straight into experience without a professional summary is a missed opportunity.
Recruiters want a quick snapshot of who you are. Without a summary, they may move on.
Write a short paragraph (2–4 lines) at the top
Mention job title, years of experience, and key strengths
Example: “Customer service specialist with 6+ years of experience in tech and retail. Skilled in conflict resolution, CRM tools, and team leadership.”
Weak or passive language doesn’t show impact.
Phrases like “responsible for” or “helped with” are vague. In the U.S., action and achievement are valued.
Start bullet points with power verbs: “Managed”, “Created”, “Led”, “Improved”
Quantify results wherever possible: “Increased sales by 30%”
Yes, even file type matters!
Uploading a resume in the wrong format (like .pages or .jpeg) can cause display issues or be rejected by ATS.
Always use PDF unless the employer asks for Word
Name your file professionally: FirstName_LastName_Resume.pdf
It seems obvious, but it’s often missed.
If a recruiter can’t easily find your phone number, email, or LinkedIn, they won’t reach out — they’ll move on.
Include phone number and professional email
Add your LinkedIn URL (make sure it’s updated!)
Avoid adding your full home address — city and state is enough in the U.S.
Many job seekers don’t realize how ATS works. It scans your resume for keywords, structure, and formatting. Mistakes like using headers in tables, skipping keywords, or uploading an image-heavy resume can mean instant rejection.
Trying to manage all these details yourself can feel overwhelming — but that’s why we’re here.
At Resume Thrive, we specialize in U.S.-focused resume writing services that are:
ATS-optimized
Professionally formatted
Tailored to your industry
Delivered in multiple formats (Word + PDF)
100% customized with human support
Stop wondering why your applications go unnoticed. Let Resume Thrive craft a resume that gets results.