After reviewing 5,000+ student resumes, we've identified the most common mistakes that get applications rejected—and exactly how to fix them.
Your resume is your first impression—and often your only chance to land an interview. In a world where AI filters out most applications before a human sees them, every detail matters. We've analyzed thousands of student resumes and interviewed dozens of recruiters to identify the mistakes that cost candidates opportunities.
The good news? Every mistake on this list is completely fixable. By the end of this article, you'll know exactly what to change and have before-and-after examples to guide you.
Sending the same resume to every company is one of the biggest reasons for rejection. Modern ATS systems compare your resume against the job description, and generic resumes score poorly.
Generic Resume
"Proficient in Python, Java, and web development. Looking for software engineering opportunities."
Tailored for Data Science Role
"Python developer with 2+ years experience in pandas, scikit-learn, and TensorFlow. Built ML pipelines processing 1M+ records."
Passive language makes your achievements sound unimpressive. Words like "was responsible for," "helped with," and "was involved in" diminish your impact.
Technical
Developed, Engineered, Architected, Optimized, Automated, Implemented, Deployed, Integrated
Leadership
Led, Directed, Coordinated, Mentored, Spearheaded, Initiated, Orchestrated
Achievement
Achieved, Delivered, Exceeded, Accelerated, Boosted, Increased, Reduced, Saved
❌ Weak
✅ Strong
Numbers grab attention and make your achievements concrete. Vague statements are forgettable; specific metrics are memorable.
[Action Verb] + [What You Did] + [Measurable Result]
❌ Without Numbers
"Built a mobile app that helped students track their attendance"
✅ With Numbers
"Built a mobile app used by 2,000+ students that improved attendance tracking accuracy by 35%"
A cluttered or overly creative resume is hard to read—both for humans and ATS systems. Clean formatting improves readability and ATS compatibility.
Every line should serve a purpose. Remove high school details (unless you're a freshman), unrelated hobbies, personal information like age/marital status, and outdated experiences.
Rule of thumb: If it doesn't help you get THIS specific job, remove it.
[email protected] or [email protected] makes recruiters cringe. Create a professional email: [email protected] or [email protected].
For students and early-career professionals, one page is the rule. Recruiters have seconds—make every word count. Two pages are only acceptable with 10+ years of relevant experience.
Listing "Expert in Python" when you've only completed a basic course will backfire in technical interviews. Be honest about proficiency levels. It's okay to say "Familiar with" or "Learning."
Make it easy for recruiters to learn more about you. Include clickable links to:
Always submit as PDF to ensure links are clickable and formatting is preserved.
Use our free AI-powered resume tools to check your resume before applying:
Written by Sproutern Career Team
Based on analysis of 5,000+ student resumes and feedback from 100+ HR professionals and recruiters across top companies.
Regularly updated
