This is why most candidates fail to land interviews.
Your resume is your marketing document, and it should demonstrate that you are well-prepared for the job.
However, most of us think of landing a job as if it should be a “favor” or a matter of “luck.” As such, we are often left unprepared for what lies ahead.
Of course, luck can play a role in some aspects of life, but finding a job should be a deliberate and planned process, without leaving anything to chance or a slim probability.
One stands a high chance of missing out on exciting opportunities if they fail to plan adequately.
This is a journey and not a marathon.
Remember to read Part 1 and Part 2 to fully understand all the components that should make your resume a complete and compelling one.
Go for success and reach out if you need extra help.
Ignoring Keywords (ATS Issues) in your CV
Why does it matter?
Every job comes with a description that highlights essential points the employer considers relevant to solving their problems. So, it is your responsibility to identify those crucial points. These are keywords or phrases.
Ignoring keywords means that you are indirectly ignoring the duties of the role. Many companies or recruiting firms use the Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter keywords in resumes or CVs.
If your CV lacks the right keywords from the job description, it may never reach the right person or the hiring manager’s desk.
There is a broad claim that ATS rejects up to 75% of CVs before recruiters see them. The most critical thing for you to know is that computer programs are used to filter CVs based on keywords.
How to avoid this mistake
Take your time to carefully read the job description (JD) and highlight repeating skills, tools, and certifications.
Do you have those keywords (or some) in your CV at the time of reviewing the job description? You don’t necessarily need all keywords to qualify, but having all of them is excellent.
If you have those skills or tools, but they are not in your resume, weave them into your CV (don’t keyword-stuff).
Be mindful of not copying skills you do not have (we will discuss this at a later point). For example, if the JD mentions “load forecasting” and “Python,” make sure those terms appear in your experience section.
How should you correct it
There are a lot of tools out there to help you. You can test your CV with ATS-checker tools like Jobscan, Resumatch, or CVScan.
One should be particularly careful when adjusting their resume to match the keywords in the job description. Do not copy and paste the points in the job description. You can just be original with your experience as you import important keywords without lying.
It is pretty easy for the recruiter to notice if you copied directly word-for-word from the JD.
Optimizing for both ATS and human readability is the sweet spot to grant you an interview call.
Being Vague About Timelines and Gaps without Explanation
Why does it matter?
You want to make the life of a recruiter or a hiring manager as easy as possible. As such, missing or unclear dates raise suspicion.
Hence, suspicion leads to doubts about the number of years of your professional experience. Recruiters may wonder if you’re hiding employment gaps, short stints, or inconsistencies.
You may wonder if a career gap is detrimental. However, career gaps aren’t always bad; unexplained ones, however, worry employers.
A blank 2–3 year gap makes recruiters assume the worst (lack of ambition, difficulty finding work, etc.).
Yet, many gaps are legitimate, such as for study or continuous education, caregiving, health, and entrepreneurship.
Take it easy and be open, for transparency builds trust. Trust also has a unique potential to lead to an interview call.
How to avoid this mistake
Always include clear start and end dates (month/year). For instance, if you’re still employed, write “Jan 2021 – Present.”
I have seen many people write the duration of their work experience by considering only the years. I have made similar mistakes as well, because I wanted a simple way to write timelines.
However, you should avoid vague entries like “2019–2020.” This is because without months, they look incomplete.
Anticipate the question. If you have a gap, address it proactively in your CV or cover letter.
For example, let’s say you had a baby or took a break to focus on other adventures, such as education or family matters. You can state it: “Career break (March 2020–June 2022) to care for family; resumed career with renewed focus on renewable energy consulting.”
How should you correct it
Correcting timelines and gaps in your resume should be straightforward. First, you’ll need to conduct a self-audit of your CV to ensure that every role has a timeline and that any gaps are explained.
If you have overlaps (e.g., freelancing while studying), could you explain them briefly? Honesty about your career path is better than leaving recruiters guessing.
Add a short line for gaps rather than leaving them blank. If, during the gap period, you had acquired some skills, kindly highlight the skills gained during that time.
This could be online courses, volunteering, or freelance work. This demonstrates resilience and continuous growth despite a brief period of absence.
Exaggerating or Lying in Resume
Why does it matter?
We only know as much as we have learned. This is also similar to our work experience. If you have never worked in a particular field or used a tool, do not lie about it.
According to StandOut CV statistics from 2023, 55% of Americans have at least lied once on their resume.
Decorating your CV with all the “fancy” keywords in the job description might get you an interview, but it can destroy trust if discovered.
Many employers verify qualifications, job titles, and even project involvement. If they catch exaggeration, it can cost you not only the role but also your professional reputation.
How to avoid this mistake
One may ask, if they don’t write the keywords to land an interview, what should they do? It is pretty simple, just stick to the truth.
For instance, you only used the ETAP software briefly in college/university for a student-led project. In your CV, do not say you are an ETAP expert because that is obviously not the case.
Frame your achievements positively, but don’t invent them. Remember, interviews give you a chance to elaborate.
You don’t need to “pad” your CV with fiction.
How should you correct it
This is the easy part. If you’ve overstated something, rewrite it accurately but confidently.
For instance, instead of “Led a team of 10 engineers,” you could say, “Contributed to a team of 10 engineers, supporting system design and testing.”
Everyone can be trained to do the work once they are open-minded to continuous improvement. Hence, you do not have to exaggerate your achievements just for an interview that will not end well.
Honesty earns respect.
Too Many Pages in your CV
Why does it matter?
This point is vital, but it also depends on individual situations. Someone applying for an industry job and another person applying for an academic role won’t have the same rules applying to them.
I once received someone’s CV to review. It was nine (9) pages. I was immediately discouraged from reading everything.
A 5–6 page CV overwhelms recruiters. Unless you’re in academia (where long CVs are standard), most industries expect 1–2 pages.
Extra pages signal you don’t know how to prioritize or communicate concisely—both red flags. Prioritization and effective communication are critical soft skills that are highly valued in all workplaces.
How to avoid this mistake
To avoid this common mistake in your resume, keep the master CV and always edit a copy for specific roles.
In general, you should be ruthless with trimming your CV to a maximum of 2 pages unless you have extraordinary achievements that will serve you well.
Otherwise, remove outdated roles (e.g., summer jobs from 15 years ago) or irrelevant details. Focus on the last 10–12 years of experience.
Remember: a CV is not your autobiography; it’s your marketing document. Therefore, your resume/CV should work for you and not against your own interests in landing a job.
How should you correct it
You should get straight to the point and eliminate unnecessary details. Combine older jobs into a brief “Earlier experience” section.
Could you use concise bullets instead of paragraphs? Moreover, you should aim for impact/results/achievements per line, not volume.
Who doesn’t want to have an “easy” life?
Recruiters and/or hiring managers will appreciate you for respecting their time.
Using Clichés in your Resume
Why does it matter?
I can’t emphasize this point enough. I have reviewed over 50+ resumes and have seen many people make this grave mistake.
If you are reading this point today, you are not alone. I have made such mistakes too. But why do we make such errors?
Phrases like “hardworking team player” or “results-oriented professional” appear on thousands of CVs, making you blend in. What does a “results-oriented professional” mean?
Without evidence, they feel empty. Recruiters often overlook them because they don’t differentiate between candidates.
How to avoid this mistake
It is easy to avoid this mistake that can cost you dearly in your job search journey. You should replace clichés with proof or impact.
Instead of claiming to be a “team player,” show teamwork in action with impact.
For instance, you can write:
- Collaborated with a cross-functional team of 12 to deliver a $15 million substation upgrade project 2 months ahead of schedule, saving over $200,000 of the budget.
How do you feel after reading the two experiences?
How should you correct it
We can easily eliminate all clichés in our CV and replace them with relevant examples.
The focus here is that action + evidence always beats adjectives. You should aim at turning vague claims into memorable results.
And whoever reads it can evidently say your resume stands out from the usual standard.
For example, instead of writing, you are a results-oriented professional with over 15 years of experience,
Why not simply state the results you have achieved instead of claiming to be a “results-oriented professional”?
An example is provided above for your reference.
Feel free to reach out to me if you need help with crafting your resume to demonstrate action, results, and achievements.
Leaving Out Relevant Skills or Certifications in your CV
Why does it matter?
This concludes our series on common mistakes in resumes and CVs. One may ask why this matters.
Our skills are a differential factor in all things we do. Consider that there are many people in soccer, football, or other sports. Why do some people get to play in top world teams while others play in lower teams?
Obviously, not everyone will get the opportunity to play in big clubs/teams. However, the focus here is that we are hired based on the skills we have.
Now, these skills are both technical and non-technical (soft skills), even though the latter is typically overlooked.
Employers often shortlist based on hard skills and certifications. If you forget to list that you’re licensed (e.g., PE, PMP, OSHA-certified), you may be screened out before they even realize you’re qualified.
How to avoid this mistake
Depending on the number of skills and certifications you have, you may consider keeping a “Summary of Skills” and “Highlights of Certifications.”
If the combination of skills and certifications is fewer, say, 10 points, you can maintain a dedicated “Skills & Certifications” section. Update it regularly with new tools, languages, or credentials. Prioritize skills that match the job description.
How should you correct it
Finally, review your CV before applying and ask: “Does this reflect my most current skills?” If not, update it.
Even soft skills can be showcased, but keep them relevant.
Remember that the skills and/or certifications section ensures recruiters don’t miss your core strengths.
Summary
We have come to the end of this post. The entire post has been divided into three (3) parts: Part 1, Part 2, and this post you are reading now.
Check out parts 1 and 2 to fully grasp all the mistakes that you can avoid and stand a higher chance of landing your dream job.
The pain of hunting for job opportunities is real, and I have been there before. This has motivated me to share these with you.
I believe in your potential that tomorrow shall be better.
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4 Responses
Thanks for the guidance. I have learnt a lot.
Awesome, it’s a great pleasure to help. Best wishes, Mba
Very important sir, thank you very much
It’s a great pleasure, Evans. Well appreciated 🍀