7 First Resume Mistakes Students Still Make
Most first resumes fail for fixable reasons. Here is what to change before you hit apply.
Writing a vague objective instead of a sharp summary
Replace Seeking a challenging role with two sentences about your focus, tools, and the type of role you want next.
Hiding projects under the fold
If you have little work history, projects are the product. Put 1 to 3 strong projects near the top with stack and outcome.
Bullets that only list duties
Helped with website is weak. Shipped a Next.js landing page used by 400 weekly visitors is credible.
Using a template that fights ATS
Heavy graphics, text in images, and unusual section names can hurt parsing. Prefer Classic, Modern, or Minimal in ResuFlow.
Forgetting contact basics
Phone, professional email, LinkedIn or GitHub, and city are still table stakes. Broken links kill trust instantly.
Sending the wrong file
Export a PDF, open it on mobile, and confirm nothing is cut off. Then name the file Firstname_Lastname_Resume.pdf.
Never tailoring for the role
Keep a master resume, then adjust the top skills and 2 to 3 bullets for each application. Ten minutes of tailoring beats spray and pray.
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