9 Resume Mistakes AI Recruiters Catch Instantly (And How to Fix Them)
9 Resume Mistakes AI Recruiters Catch Instantly (And How to Fix Them)
Discover the 9 resume mistakes that get you rejected by AI screening tools before a human ever sees your application. Learn how to fix them and land more interviews.
Why Your Resume Keeps Getting Rejected (It's Not What You Think)
You've sent out dozens of applications. Your experience is solid. But the interviews aren't coming.
Here's the reality: over 75% of resumes are rejected by AI screening tools before a human recruiter ever sees them. The mistakes that trigger these rejections aren't always obvious—and most job seekers have no idea they're making them.
At While True Lab, we've built AI tools for both sides of hiring. We know exactly what these systems look for—and what makes them say "no." Here's what actually gets you filtered out.
1. Generic Objective Statements: Best for Getting Ignored
Statements like "Seeking a challenging role where I can grow" tell recruiters nothing. AI systems scan for relevance, and vague objectives score poorly.
Key benefit of fixing this: Your resume immediately signals fit for the specific role.
What to do instead: Replace with a 2-3 line professional summary that includes your target role title, years of experience, and 1-2 key achievements. Example: "Marketing Manager with 6 years of experience driving B2B growth. Led campaigns that generated $2.3M in pipeline for SaaS products."
2. Missing Keywords: Best for Disappearing Into the Void
AI screening tools match your resume against the job description. If you're missing critical keywords, you're invisible—even if you're qualified.
Key benefit of fixing this: You pass the initial AI filter and actually get seen.
What to do instead: Read the job posting carefully. Identify repeated skills, tools, and qualifications. Mirror that language naturally in your experience section. If they say "project management," don't just say "led projects."
3. Inconsistent Formatting: Best for Confusing the Algorithm
Fancy templates with tables, graphics, headers in text boxes, or multiple columns often break when parsed by applicant tracking systems (ATS). Your carefully designed resume becomes scrambled data.
Key benefit of fixing this: Your information is actually readable by both AI and humans.
What to do instead: Stick to a clean, single-column format. Use standard section headers (Experience, Education, Skills). Avoid text boxes, tables, and images. Save as .docx or PDF depending on what the application requests.
4. Duties Instead of Achievements: Best for Blending In
"Responsible for managing social media accounts" describes a task. It doesn't show impact. AI systems increasingly score for quantified achievements, and recruiters skim for proof of results.
Key benefit of fixing this: You stand out from candidates who just list job descriptions.
What to do instead: Use the formula: Action verb + What you did + Result/Impact. Example: "Grew Instagram following from 5K to 47K in 8 months, increasing website traffic by 34%."
5. Spelling and Grammar Errors: Best for Instant Rejection
This seems obvious, but it's still one of the top reasons resumes get rejected. AI tools flag errors, and even one typo can signal carelessness to recruiters.
Key benefit of fixing this: You avoid the easiest reason to get filtered out.
What to do instead: Don't rely on spellcheck alone. Read your resume out loud. Have someone else review it. Better yet, use an AI-powered resume checker that catches context-specific errors (like using "lead" when you meant "led").
6. No Customization Per Application: Best for Wasting Your Time
Sending the same resume to every job is efficient—but ineffective. AI systems score relevance, and a generic resume rarely matches any specific role well enough to rank highly.
Key benefit of fixing this: Your match score improves for each specific role.
What to do instead: Keep a "master resume" with all your experience. For each application, create a tailored version that emphasizes the most relevant skills and achievements for that role. Yes, it takes more time. It also actually works.
7. Gaps Without Context: Best for Raising Red Flags
Employment gaps aren't automatic deal-breakers, but unexplained gaps make recruiters (and AI systems) pause. The absence of information invites assumptions.
Key benefit of fixing this: You control the narrative instead of leaving it to imagination.
What to do instead: Briefly address gaps in your resume or cover letter. Freelance work, caregiving, skill-building, travel—these are legitimate. "2022-2023: Career break for family caregiving; completed Google Data Analytics certification" is infinitely better than silence.
8. Outdated or Irrelevant Information: Best for Looking Out of Touch
That summer job from 2009? Your high school achievements? Listing "Microsoft Word" as a skill? These take up space and can make you seem out of touch with current expectations.
Key benefit of fixing this: Your resume stays focused and relevant.
What to do instead: Generally, include only the last 10-15 years of experience. Remove skills that are now assumed (basic Office, email). Prioritize recent, relevant achievements. Exception: keep older experience if it's directly relevant to your target role.
9. Wrong File Format or Naming: Best for Never Being Found
Submitting a .pages file to a system that can't read it. Naming your file "resume_final_v3_REAL.pdf." These small details can mean your resume is never opened—or impossible to find later.
Key benefit of fixing this: Recruiters can actually open and locate your resume.
What to do instead: Save as .pdf or .docx (check what the application requests). Name your file professionally: "FirstName_LastName_Resume.pdf" or "FirstName_LastName_TargetRole.pdf."
How to Choose What to Fix First
* 🚫 No callbacks at all?
Focus on *#2 (Keywords)** and #3 (Formatting).
* 🤔 Interviews for the wrong roles?
Focus on *#1 (Summary)** and #6 (Customization).
* 🗣️ Interviews but no offers?
Focus on *#4 (Achievements)** — you are likely underselling yourself.
* 🔄 Career change or gaps?
Focus on *#7 (Gaps)** and #1 (Summary).
The Bottom Line
Most resume advice focuses on making your resume look good. But in 2026, your resume needs to perform well—for AI systems first, then humans.
The good news? These fixes aren't complicated. They just require knowing what modern hiring systems actually look for.
If we had to pick the highest-impact change: add keywords from the job description and quantify your achievements. Those two fixes alone can dramatically increase your callback rate.
Want to Know Exactly What's Wrong With Your Resume?
Guessing what to fix is frustrating. That's why we built Autoditerima—an AI-powered platform that analyzes your resume against real job targets, identifies specific issues, and gives you actionable recommendations.
You can also practice interviews with AI simulations that adapt to your target role, so you're ready when those callbacks start coming.
FAQs
Q: How do AI resume screening tools actually work?
A: Most ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) parse your resume into structured data, then score it based on keyword matches, qualifications, and sometimes semantic relevance to the job description. Higher scores get seen by humans; lower scores get filtered out automatically.
Q: Should I use a resume template or create my own?
A: Clean, ATS-friendly templates are fine—just avoid overly designed ones with graphics, tables, or multiple columns. When in doubt, simpler is safer.
Q: How many keywords should I include?
A: There's no magic number. Focus on naturally incorporating the key skills, tools, and qualifications mentioned in the job posting. Keyword stuffing (hiding white text, repeating words unnaturally) can get you flagged or rejected.
Q: Is a one-page resume still the rule?
A: For most professionals with under 10 years of experience, yes. Senior professionals or academics may need two pages. The real rule: every line should earn its place.