🚫 Most Common Resume Mistakes That Trigger ATS Rejection

ATS software scans for specific patterns and content. When your resume doesn’t follow these rules, it either gets ranked low or isn’t read at all. Many of these issues are avoidable with a little awareness.

Below are the top mistakes job seekers make that cause their resumes to get rejected by applicant tracking systems.

Fixing these errors can dramatically increase your chances of landing an interview—and ScanMy.CV can guide you through the corrections step by step.

• 🧾 Using Uncommon Headings

  Creative section titles like “Where I Worked” instead of “Work Experience” confuse ATS software and can cause it to skip entire sections.

• 📊 Including Tables and Columns

  Tables may look clean to you, but ATS systems struggle to read content inside them, resulting in missed information.

• 🎨 Overusing Graphics or Icons

  Visuals like logos, icons, and charts can’t be read by ATS and may distort the document structure during parsing.

• 🧠 Keyword Stuffing

  Adding keywords unnaturally or too many times can backfire, making your resume look inauthentic and spammy.

• ❌ Wrong File Format

  Submitting your resume in formats like .jpg, .png, or even some PDFs can prevent it from being read. Use .docx or ATS-compliant PDF files.

• 🔠 Using Unreadable Fonts

  Fancy or script fonts may not render correctly in ATS scans. Stick to standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.

• 🔍 Ignoring Job Description Keywords

  Failing to tailor your resume to include terms from the job description leads to low matching scores in ATS filters.

• 🗃️ Missing Contact Info in Text

  Placing contact details inside headers or footers can make them invisible to ATS systems. Always keep them in the main body.

• 📋 Using Images of Text

  Text embedded in images isn’t readable by ATS, which means vital information could be lost completely.

• 🛑 Omitting a Professional Summary

  Skipping this section means you lose a key opportunity to inject keywords and immediately showcase relevance to the role.

🛠 How to Make Your Resume ATS-Proof

Fixing these issues doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Focus on structure, clarity, and relevance. Use standard headings and keep visuals to a minimum.

Ensure your resume content is tailored for each application by including role-specific keywords naturally and accurately.

With ScanMy.CV, you can scan your resume instantly to detect formatting errors, keyword gaps, and other issues—before applying.