Why The Recruiter Isn’t Calling: 6 Resume Mistakes And How to Fix Them

By Miguel Pereira

You’ve found the perfect job posting, tailored the greatest email or LinkedIn message and submitted your resume. Weeks go by, and… silence. What might have gone wrong? Find out in this article 6 resume mistakes and how to fix them.

Talent Acquisition teams cycle through a multitude of resumes, looking for the next perfect fit at each glance. Sometimes, the problem might not be the lack of experience for the role, but a sneaky typo in your email address!

Moreover, if you’re looking for an exciting new role, check our careers page, select the position you’d like to apply for, and then come back to this article to make sure your CV passes the test of our six most common mistakes to avoid.

6 Resume Mistakes to Avoid

In this article, we will go over some of the most common resume mistakes and how to fix them. But first, let me clear something up. If you don’t get a response from the recruiter after applying for a job, you should definitely follow up with a message. Your contact attempt should include details about the position you applied for. If you still don’t receive a response or get a negative one, then perhaps it’s time to review your resume and check for these mistakes.

1. Not adding Basic Contact Information

What’s the Issue? Many resumes lack email addresses, phone numbers, or LinkedIn profiles, leaving recruiters unable to reach out to you, or having to impersonate Sherlock Holmes to be able to establish contact.
How to Fix It: Clearly displaying your contact info at the top will increase the chance and celerity of getting the call or email that you’re looking for. Below your picture (if you choose to have one) is usually a great spot.

2. Messy Dates and Overlapping Experiences

What’s the Issue? Inconsistent or unclear timelines make recruiters wonder about gaps or double-booked jobs, creating confusion in the resume review stage, which is often a fast-paced task.
How to Fix It: Precision is key! If it was a freelance project, consider labeling it. If there are overlapping experiences, it’s a wonderful idea to explain briefly in parentheses.

3. Short Job Descriptions Without Tech Stack Details

What’s the Issue? “Developed applications” doesn’t add much. What tech did you use? What impact did you create? – Job titles can be deceiving. A Recruiter reviewing your CV, trying to match you to a role, will have a difficult time in doing so if the only information they have is your job title. The main point here is that a Data Engineer in company A, does not perform the same tasks as a Data Engineer in company B.
How to Fix It: It’s a good idea to list your technologies clearly: “Developed REST APIs with Python and Flask, integrated CI/CD pipelines with Jenkins.” Bonus points if you list them below the job descriptions of each role. This part of your resume is arguably the most important. Don’t be afraid to bring out the writer in you.

4. Academic Background Without Specified Degrees (Or Timelines)

What’s the Issue? Mentioning that you “Studied at University X” might be too vague. This leaves many unanswered questions on the table. Did you graduate? Was it a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctorate? These are details that matter and should always be present in a masterpiece resume.
How to Fix It: Consider stating the type of degree, the starting year, and the year of completion. Don’t forget to mention the institution where you spent all those wonderful years!
What if… you don’t have an academic degree? In this case, you can find helpful advice in this article.

5. Typos and Poor Formatting

What’s the Issue? A resume riddled with typos or awkward formatting doesn’t inspire much confidence. Recruiters may be left questioning your attention to detail—a critical skill in the technology space.

How to Fix It: Some resume mistakes are easier to fix than others, and in this case, Grammarly can be a great help. Moreover, it’s best to stick to clean, professional templates and always maintain consistent formatting — use the same font, align text properly, and include bullet points for readability.

6. Ignoring the Power of LinkedIn

What’s the Issue? Not adding a direct link to your LinkedIn profile is a missed opportunity. Nowadays, LinkedIn has become a powerful tool to complement your resume and further inform curious recruiters about what you’ve been up to in the last few years!
How to Fix It: There are many creative ways to add a clickable link to your LinkedIn on your resume. With a simple click, the recruiter is learning more about you, and your chance of being the perfect match increases drastically. Additionally, ensure your LinkedIn profile aligns with your resume (dates, job titles, etc.) and make it stand out. For more valuable insights, check out our article featuring a complete guide with expert LinkedIn tips.