7 Resume Red Flags You Might Miss (But We Don’t)—insights from a recruiter’s perspective on subtle resume warning signs.

Ever wondered how hiring managers whittle down thousands of resumes into just a handful of interview invitations? It’s not sorcery, and it’s definitely not luck. Recruiters and hiring managers scan for red flags that quickly sort the “maybe” pile from the “yes.” Some are glaringly obvious, while others are sneaky enough to trip up even seasoned professionals.

After 25 years in recruiting, I can safely say 90% of the resumes I review contain mistakes. Patterns repeat, and I see the same errors again and again. Here are the resume red flags that often send otherwise qualified candidates straight into the rejection stack.

1. A Novel Disguised as a Resume. 

If your resume reads like the first draft of your autobiography, we have a problem. Hiring managers don’t read; they skim. A wall of text will lose them before they hit the second sentence.

Fix: Keep it short, sharp, and skimmable. Use bullet points to list your responsibilities, along with the soft skills that enabled you to complete them. This enables the reader to quickly locate the relevant details for the position. Think “grocery list,” not War and Peace.

2. Typos and Grammar Gremlins

Spelling mistakes, sloppy grammar, or wonky formatting scream: “I have no attention to detail.” If you can’t proofread one page, how can an employer trust you with contracts or client emails? It's also the easiest to fix using AI and online tools. Mistakes = I don't care.

Fix: Run spellcheck, Grammarly, whatever you use. Then print it out and review every word. Better yet, have a friend review it. A fresh set of eyes always catches what you and AI miss (and AI misses a lot).

3. The Resume Tetris Trap

Creative formatting may feel clever and “eye-catching,” but it’s not “job-catching” when your resume looks like a confusing puzzle; recruiters hit “next.” Multi-column layouts and fancy graphics confuse both humans and applicant tracking systems (ATS).

Fix: Stick to a clean, single-column format in reverse chronological order. Simple is professional.

4. Vague Job Descriptions

“Provided general administrative support to the team” tells us nothing. Supported whom? Doing what and how? HR Managers and Recruiters can be magicians, but we are not psychic! (Well, maybe a little.) Employers want specifics; did you manage calendars, book travel, reconcile expenses, or liaise with vendors, and if so, with whom?

Fix: SPELL IT OUT with bullet points. Never assume the reader knows what and how you did things.

5. Job Hopping Without Context

A string of short stints raises eyebrows. Were you let go? Why did they not keep you? Or just moving up the ladder? Without explanation, hiring managers will assume the worst.

Fix: Be prepared to explain any gaps or short tenures in your cover letter or during the interview. The reasons you moved matter.

6. Missing Tech Skills = No Tech Skills

In 2025, omitting the computer skills section is a rookie mistake. Forget to include Word, Excel, or specialized platforms, and you might not even make it through the ATS filter.

Fix: Create a clear “Computer and Language Skills” section. Save your “soft skills” for your bullet points of responsibilities, which explain what you did and the soft skills you used to accomplish it.

7. Degree or No Degree is a Yes/No Question

Listing a degree you didn’t finish is career suicide. Employers check. Misrepresenting education remains the #1 way people get caught in resume fraud, and it commonly leads to instant dismissal.

Fix: Be honest. If you attended but didn’t graduate, say so: “Completed coursework toward X degree.” Only say you if you are really currently enrolled in the current semester, list it as "currently enrolled" with the "expected graduation date". Never fake a diploma.

Wrapping It Up

Your resume isn’t just a job history; it’s your marketing brochure. It tells a recruiter what you’ve done, how you think, how you communicate, and how much effort you put into presenting yourself. It shows them how you will represent the company when you work for them.

The truth? Small missteps, such as a typo, vague wording, or a formatting error, can cost you an interview. Nail the basics: bullet-point responsibilities, proofread relentlessly, keep formatting clean, and be truthful.

Because at the end of the day, your resume has one job: to get you the interview. Don’t let it be the reason you don’t!