You’ve got the skills. You’re showing up. You’re ready to work. But if your resume doesn’t reflect all that, it can hold you back—before you even get the interview.
In our Career Development Program (CDP), we review a lot of resumes. And we’ve noticed the same mistakes show up over and over again. The good news? They’re easy to fix—and once you do, you’ll be one step closer to landing the job you want.
Here are five common resume mistakes—and how to fix each one.
The mistake: A resume that’s either one sentence or five pages long. Employers don’t have time to search for what matters.
Fix it: Keep it to one page. Focus on your last few years of experience, and highlight the roles and skills most relevant to the job you're applying for. You don’t need to list every job you’ve ever had—just the ones that show you're ready for this one.
The mistake: “Responsible for customer service.” “Helped with food prep.” These don’t tell the hiring manager much.
Fix it: Use action verbs and be specific. Ask yourself: What did I actually do in that role? What tools, systems, or techniques did I use?
Better:
“Greeted 100+ customers daily and handled cash and card transactions with accuracy.”
“Prepped vegetables, sauces, and proteins in a high-volume commercial kitchen.”
The mistake: Crowded text, inconsistent fonts, missing section headers, or a layout that looks different on every computer.
Fix it:
Use a clean, simple layout
Stick to one professional font
Include clear sections: Name, Contact Info, Summary, Work Experience, Skills, Education
Save and send your resume as a PDF to keep the formatting locked in
The mistake: Leaving out the part of your resume that makes it easy for hiring managers to scan for qualifications.
Fix it: Add a “Skills” section at the top or bottom. List specific tools and skills that match the job you want, such as:
Food handler certification
POS systems (e.g., Square, Toast)
Knife skills
Inventory tracking
Microsoft Word / Google Docs
Tailor this list to match the job description as closely as possible.
The mistake: A missing phone number. A typo in your email. Work dates that don’t line up. These small details can cost you the interview.
Fix it:
Proofread slowly or ask someone else to review it
Double-check your contact info
Make sure your formatting is consistent across all jobs (same order, punctuation, and spacing)
Your resume is a living document. It should grow with you as you gain experience and skills.
Having a growth mindset means treating your resume as a work-in-progress—not a reflection of your worth, but a tool you’re building to help tell your story.