When I was a Disney intern, I found myself in an unexpected situation—critiquing a stranger’s resume during a meet-and-greet with a senior executive.
Talk about nerve-wracking!
To this day, that moment taught me the importance of first impressions. Your resume is professional you in paper form, and it’s your one chance to make a stellar first impression.
In the case of job searching, this includes winning over the interviewer and the ATS bot that’s scrubbing your resume, first.
Here are 5 reasons why your resume fails to stand out and how to fix it:
1. Your Formatting is Unreadable by ATS
Imagine pouring hours into crafting a stunning resume in Canva or InDesign, only to have it tossed aside by an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) because it couldn’t read it.
Today, 75% of companies use ATS to filter resumes—and if ATS can’t understand yours, you’re instantly out of the running.
My Advice: Keep it simple. Use Microsoft Word or Google Docs with text-centric capabilities. Avoid tables, graphics, or text embedded in images. Trust me, it’ll look just as polished without the frills, and it’ll make it past the digital gatekeeper.
2. You’re Not Tailoring Your Resume for Each Job Posting
Your resume isn’t a one-size-fits-all document. Recruiters are scanning for keywords that align with their job postings, so if your resume doesn’t speak their language, it’s an automatic pass.
My Advice: Review each job posting and sprinkle in those magic keywords where applicable. Take it up a notch (and save yourself TONS of time) with tools like ChatGPT to help you craft tailored bullet points that scream, “I’m your ideal candidate!”
3. You Have Typos or Misspellings
Nothing screams “unprofessional” louder than a typo. A single misspelling can take your otherwise stellar resume and toss it into the No pile faster than you can say “attention to detail.”
My Advice: Run your resume through a tool like Grammarly or ask a trusted friend or professional (like me!) to proofread it. Fresh eyes catch what yours might miss.
4. Your Location Doesn’t Match the Job
If you’re applying to a job in New York but your resume lists your sunny Florida address, recruiters might assume relocation isn’t in the cards and skip over you.
My Advice: Take your location off entirely if it doesn’t align with the job’s location. These days, many jobs are remote or hybrid anyway, so it’s not always a dealbreaker.
5. You’re Not Building Relationships
Submitting a resume into the digital void is like entering the lottery. Sure, you might get lucky, but why not stack the odds in your favor?
My Advice: Networking is your secret weapon. Reach out for informational interviews or casual chats with people in the department you’re interested in. You’ll gain valuable insights and maybe even an internal referral. Remember, your resume gets you in the door, but relationships seal the deal.
Ali Goodin Certified Career Coach in Central FL
I'm a former Disney employee, graphic designer turned career coach, and job transition expert. I created Ful Life Coaching to give professionals of all ages & stages a safe space to navigate career transition. My passion is equipping professionals with the tools and confidence they need to transition in their careers – from launch to retirement – so they can live happier, healthier lives.