You could have years of solid experience and still miss out on interviews. Not because you’re unqualified, but because your resume is working against you. Here are the most common mistakes we see, and how to fix them.

1. Listing duties instead of achievements

“Responsible for managing a team” tells a hiring manager what your job was, not how well you did it. Rewriting this as “Managed a team of 8, improving on-time project delivery by 20%” gives them a reason to shortlist you.

2. Using a generic, one-size-fits-all resume

Sending the same resume to every job application is one of the fastest ways to get rejected by both recruiters and ATS software. Employers can tell when a resume hasn’t been tailored to the role.

3. Burying key information

If a recruiter has to search for your most relevant experience, they’ve likely already moved on to the next candidate. Put your strongest, most relevant achievements near the top of each section.

4. Overly long or overly short resumes

Both extremes are a problem. A one-page resume for someone with 15 years of experience looks incomplete, while a five-page resume for an early-career candidate looks unfocused. Two pages is usually the sweet spot for most Australian job seekers.

5. Formatting that confuses ATS software

Tables, columns, graphics and unusual fonts can cause applicant tracking systems to misread or skip your resume entirely. Stick to a clean, single-column layout with standard headings.

6. Spelling and grammar errors

Even one typo can suggest a lack of attention to detail, particularly damaging for roles that require precision. Always proofread, and ideally have someone else review it too.

7. No clear career narrative

If your work history jumps between unrelated roles without explanation, a recruiter may struggle to see your value. A short, well-written summary at the top can tie your experience together into a clear story.