How to craft a powerful resume that gets noticed

Your resume is often your first (and sometimes only) chance to make an impression.
But even experienced professionals unknowingly make mistakes that can cost them interviews.

After reviewing over 50,000 resumes throughout my recruitment career, I have noticed there are a few patterns that show up again and again, and they are easier to fix than you might think.

Here are some of the most common resume mistakes, and how you can avoid them.

1. You are listing duties, not achievements

One of the biggest mistakes I see is people treating their resume like a job description. They list out what they were responsible for, but not what they actually delivered.

What to do instead:
Focus on impact. Highlight specific achievements, outcomes, and results wherever you can. Think about what changed because you were in the role, not just what you were tasked with doing.

✅ Instead of: "Managed a sales team"
✅ Try: "Led a team of 8, increasing revenue by 15 percent in 12 months."

2. You are still using outdated resume trends

Some habits have stuck around even though they are no longer helping your chances. If your resume includes any of these, it is time for an update:

• Objective statements: Focus on what you bring, not what you want.

• Over-designed templates: Clean, simple layouts are easier to read and scan.

• Cramming everything in: Being selective shows you know what is most relevant.

Recruiters are moving fast. Make it easy for them to spot why you are the right fit.

3. Your resume is hard to read quickly

Recruiters spend an average of 5 to 7 seconds deciding whether to keep reading.
If your resume looks cramped, busy, or disorganised, you are making their job harder.

What to check:

• Clear sections with enough white space

• Easy-to-read font (no smaller than 10.5pt)

• Logical order (most recent roles first)

• Consistent formatting across headings, dates, and bullet points

Remember, you are not just writing your resume for yourself. You are designing it for someone who needs to scan and understand your value immediately.

4. You are forgetting keywords

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are real, and even if a real person is reading your resume first, they are still subconsciously scanning for specific words.

Tip:
Mirror some of the language from the job advertisement (where it makes sense) and include key technical skills, tools, qualifications, and industry terms.

This is not about stuffing keywords. It is about making it clear that you speak the same language as the employer.

5. Your professional summary is letting you down

A strong summary at the top of your resume can do a lot of the heavy lifting.
But too often, summaries are either vague and generic or packed with clichés.

What a good summary should do:

• Quickly highlight who you are professionally

• Show what you are known for

• Make it obvious why you fit the type of role you are applying for

✅ Instead of: "Results-driven professional seeking a challenging opportunity."
✅ Try: "Experienced HR leader specialising in organisational change and talent development, delivering people strategies that drive business outcomes."

6. You are including irrelevant information

Including everything you have ever done is not impressive.  It is overwhelming.

The best resumes are strategic. They spotlight the parts of your career that are most relevant to the job you are targeting today.

What to leave out:

• Roles from more than 15 years ago (unless directly relevant)

• Skills that are outdated or not aligned with the role

• Personal details like date of birth, marital status, or full address

Think of your resume as your highlight reel, not your entire career history.

7. You are ignoring the power of structure

The order and structure of your resume matters more than you might realise.
A great resume flows logically and naturally:

1. Professional Summary

2. Key Skills

3. Career History (most recent first)

4. Education and Certifications

5. Additional Information (if relevant)

Jumping around between topics or presenting information in a messy way breaks the reader's focus. Make it easy for them to find what they are looking for.

8. You are not tailoring it enough

One resume will not suit every opportunity. If you are using the same resume for every application, you are missing a huge opportunity.

Tailoring your resume means:

• Prioritising the skills and experience most relevant to the role

• Reordering bullet points to align with the employer’s focus areas

• Adjusting the summary to match the specific opportunity

It does not mean starting from scratch every time, but small adjustments can make a big difference.

Quick checklist:

Before you send your next resume, ask yourself:

✅ Does my resume show my achievements, not just my duties?
✅ Is the design clean, simple, and easy to read?
✅ Have I included relevant keywords without overloading?
✅ Is my professional summary specific and value-driven?
✅ Have I tailored it for this particular role?

Your resume is not about cramming everything in. It is about showing the right things, in the right way, at the right time.

When you make it easier for recruiters and hiring managers to see your fit, you give yourself a much stronger chance of getting through the first crucial screening step.

If you are ready to update your resume with professional templates and a clear step-by-step guide, you can find everything you need inside my Resume Vault.

👉 Visit the Resume Vault here to get started.

There is no need to second-guess every word. With the right tools and a clear plan, you can create a resume that opens doors.

Your resume is just one part of your professional brand. Optimising your LinkedIn profile can make a big difference too. Download my free LinkedIn Profile Optimisation Toolkit here.