Recruiter confessions: 6 resume red flags

It’s no secret that the job market is tough right now, and candidates must be aware of the weight a resume holds when it comes to job applications. Sure, final impressions will be made in the interview where you can showcase your unique personality and expand on your skills and experience. However, before you can have the chance to charm a potential employer, one simple document is all you have to get your foot in the door.

Trying to decide on the perfect format, data points, and experience to use on your resume isn’t something you do in the blink of an eye. Crafting the perfect resume requires a lot of consideration and planning, so you don’t want a silly mistake to be the reason a recruiter stops reading. That’s why we asked a talent acquisition expert to reveal her no-goes when it comes to reviewing a resume. Check out what Arabella Podmore says are the most common red flags to avoid when building your CV, and learn how to avoid them!

1. Missing key figures

When choosing what information you choose to put on a resume you may want to focus on qualitative information like skills and experiences, which show you are qualified and a good fit for the role. While this information is important, quantitative support from your background should also feature. “Not using data or figures to back up your achievements can make your CV feel vague and less impactful,” explains Podmore.

While it’s great to show a recruiter that you have the necessary talents and qualifications to perform a role, you also want to show them your capacity to succeed. “Whenever possible, quantify your accomplishments—whether it’s percentage growth, revenue increases, or project completions. This adds credibility and shows measurable success.” Depending on your industry, the statistics you include will be different, but even if your career doesn’t revolve around numbers, you can still find important figures to highlight. How many teammates or clients did you manage? Think of the main performance metrics in your field of work and find a way to integrate them into your experience.

2. Lacking a good layout

Even if you aren’t in a creative or visual industry, the way you format your resume still matters. Sure, if you’re a software engineer your resume probably doesn’t need as much visual polishiing as a brand manager, but there are some essential elements that you need to remember. Don’t forget, not everyone might be as technically minded or familiar with industry buzzwords as you are, and you don’t want a recruiter to be confused looking at your profile.

“A CV that lacks a clean and organized layout can be difficult to read and may turn off recruiters. Use clear headings, bullet points, and consistent formatting to ensure your CV is easy to navigate. Presentation matters as much as the content, so make sure your CV is visually appealing and well-structured. This allows recruiters to easily scan for key information and makes a stronger impact,” Podmore advises. Sounds simple enough, right? You don’t need to spend hours choosing font colors or designing a personal logo, but you want to give the impression that you put some thought and effort into the task.

3. Forgetting customization

There’s no denying that after all the hard work of honing your resume and searching until you find the perfect job, the last thing you want to do is reopen your resume to make edits. However, Podmore believes that this is a crucial step in any successful application. “Submitting the same CV for every application without tailoring it to the job description is a major turnoff.”

You may be tempted to fudge it and use the same document for multiple job openings. They won’t know if you’ve used it before, right? Wrong! “Recruiters can tell when a CV isn’t customized to fit the role. Tailoring your CV for each job shows you are fully engaged and committed to the specific opportunity.”

4. Typos

You’ve done your research to identify key elements to include, carefully selected which skills and experiences to highlight, and chose the perfect formatting to bring it all together. So, don’t let a silly typo be the reason a recruiter is turned off by your otherwise flawless resume! Simply misspelling a word or missing a punctuation mark may not seem like a big deal, but Podmore says that these tiny mistakes can make a large impact. “Even minor spelling or grammatical mistakes can instantly damage your chances. It shows a lack of attention to detail and care. Always proofread your CV, and consider using a spell-check tool or having a second pair of eyes review it.” Luckily, this blunder is easy to avoid.

5. Unexplained career gaps

This one is a bit trickier than checking for typos, and it’s not something to gloss over during the application process. If you have a gap in your work history, it’s important to let recruiters know why. Whether you were going back to school, caring for a sick relative, recovering from an accident or backpacking around Europe, taking an extended break from work isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it could make recruiters wary if you dodge the details.

Podmore says that “While career gaps are not necessarily a dealbreaker, failing to explain them can raise suspicions.” You may hope that a potential employer might not notice a gap in your employment dates, but you dont want to leave them wondering why you wouldn’t be up front about it. Especially since taking time off is valid no matter your reason. “Be transparent about why you took time off, and if applicable, share how you spent that time - whether it was for personal development, family reasons, or a sabbatical.”

6. Abandoning your achievements

It can be hard finding the right balance between many different components on a resume, weighing skills against experience, comparing educational qualifications with professional ones. Don’t lose sight of the main purpose of your resume. You’re trying to build a cohesive image of who you are and what you bring to the table, so don’t forget to put your accomplishments front and center. Chances are that most of the candidates applying for a role meet most of the basic requirements when it comes to education, seniority and skillset, so those factors may not be the most important when it comes to selecting which candidates to interview.

Instead, focus on what you have achieved in the past and how it can ensure your success in the future. “Listing job responsibilities without highlighting specific achievements is a missed opportunity. Recruiters want to see the impact you made. Clearly outline your key accomplishments, what you learned, and how you contributed in each role.” Did you land an important client? Were you chosen to lead special projects? Did you receive a promotion? It can be awkward to toot your own horn, but when it comes to curating your resume now is the time to brag about yourself!

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