Did you know recruiters spend less than 7 seconds scanning a resume?
That means one small resume mistake can silently cost you the job—even before a human reads your profile.
In this CareerFi.in Did You Know article, we reveal the most common resume mistakes freshers make, why resumes get rejected, and how to fix them to get more interview calls.
Why Resume Screening Is Brutal
Job competition today is tougher than ever. Here’s what happens behind the scenes:
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📩 200–500 resumes for a single job opening
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🤖 ATS (Applicant Tracking System) filters resumes first
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⏳ Recruiters have very limited time
📌 If your resume is hard to scan, poorly formatted, or lacks keywords, it gets rejected instantly.
Top Resume Mistakes Freshers Make
1️⃣ One Resume for All Jobs
Using the same resume for every role is one of the biggest mistakes.
❌ Generic skills
❌ No role-specific keywords
❌ Low ATS match score
✅ Fix: Customize your resume for each job description.
2️⃣ Poor Formatting
Bad formatting makes resumes unreadable.
Common issues:
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Too many fonts & colors
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No bullet points
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Long paragraphs
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Crowded margins
📌 Recruiters prefer clean, simple, one-page resumes.
3️⃣ No Keywords (ATS Killer)
Most companies use ATS software.
❌ Resume without job keywords = auto rejection
❌ Skills not matching JD terminology
✅ Fix: Use keywords directly from the job description (skills, tools, roles).
4️⃣ Fake or Exaggerated Skills
Many freshers add skills they don’t actually know.
🚫 Recruiters easily detect:
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Fake experience
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Overclaimed tools
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Unreal projects
📌 This damages credibility permanently.
How Recruiters Actually Read Your Resume
Recruiters don’t read resumes line by line.
They quickly scan for:
✔ Skills
✔ Internships / Apprenticeships
✔ Projects
✔ Education
✔ Job relevance
❌ They skip:
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Long paragraphs
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Personal stories
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Irrelevant details
Resume Mistakes vs Right Approach (Quick Table)
| Common Resume Mistake | What Recruiters Prefer |
|---|---|
| Same resume for all jobs | Customized role-based resume |
| Paragraph format | Bullet points |
| No keywords | ATS-friendly keywords |
| 2–3 page resume | 1-page resume |
| Fake skills | Honest, practical skills |
Resume Tips That Actually Work (Proven)
✔ Keep resume 1 page (freshers)
✔ Customize resume for each job
✔ Use action verbs (Designed, Built, Analyzed)
✔ Mention measurable results
✔ Keep design simple & clean
✔ Save as PDF (unless asked otherwise)
🔗 CareerFi.in Interlinking Content Box
Improve Your Resume & Job Search with CareerFi.in
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Latest Fresher Job Openings
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Internships & Apprenticeship Opportunities
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Resume & Interview Career Guidance Articles
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Government & PSU Jobs for Freshers
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Skill-based Career Roadmaps
👉 Explore more helpful content on CareerFi.in to increase your interview chances.
Final Thought
📌 Did you know?
Around 70% of resumes never reach human recruiters due to basic resume mistakes.
🎯 A strong resume = more shortlists
🎯 More shortlists = more interviews
👉 Fix your resume today—before it silently costs you your next job
