7 Common ATS Resume Mistakes (And How to Fix Every One)
Most resume rejections come down to the same handful of mistakes. Here are the 7 most common ATS resume errors job seekers make — and exactly how to fix each one.
Most ATS failures are not caused by weak experience. They are caused by the same small set of avoidable mistakes that qualified candidates make because nobody told them what ATS software actually looks for.
Here are the seven most common ones — and how to fix each.
Mistake 1: Using a Multi-Column Layout
Two-column resume layouts are one of the most common ways to accidentally tank your ATS score. They look polished in your PDF viewer, but ATS parsers read text linearly — across both columns simultaneously, then down. The result is scrambled text that the scoring engine cannot interpret.
The fix: Convert to a single-column layout. Every section, top to bottom, left to right. It looks simpler but it passes every ATS system reliably.
Related: Can an ATS Resume Have Columns?
Mistake 2: Using a Canva or Graphic-Heavy Template
Canva resume templates are designed to look impressive. They are not designed to be parsed by software. Text boxes, embedded graphics, and multi-column grids all cause extraction errors that destroy your keyword matches before scoring even starts.
The average Canva resume scores around 23/100 on ATS compatibility — not because the experience is weak, but because the content cannot be read correctly.
The fix: Rebuild in a plain Word or Google Docs document. Single column, standard fonts, no graphics.
Related: Are Canva Resumes ATS Friendly?
Mistake 3: Not Mirroring the Job Description Language
You call it "team leadership." The job description says "people management." An ATS treats these as different terms — no match. This is the most invisible failure point in resume optimization because you genuinely have the experience. You're just describing it with the wrong words.
The fix: Read the job description carefully and identify the specific verbs, nouns, and phrases used for each requirement. Rewrite your bullet points to use those exact terms where they honestly apply.
Related: How to Find the Right Resume Keywords
Mistake 4: Sending the Same Resume to Every Role
A resume optimized for a product marketing role will score poorly against a growth marketing role — even if both are "marketing jobs." Each job description has a unique keyword profile. Sending one resume everywhere means you're optimized for nowhere.
The fix: Score your resume against each specific job description before applying. How to Check Your ATS Resume Score for Free walks through the full process.
Mistake 5: No Quantified Achievements
ATS tools weight bullet points with measurable results higher than vague descriptions. "Managed social media" tells a parser almost nothing. "Grew Instagram following by 47% over 6 months, reaching 28,000 followers" contains specific numbers, verbs, and context that score significantly higher.
The fix: Go through every bullet point and ask: can I add a number here? Revenue, percentages, headcount, timeframes, volume. Add metrics wherever honest.
Mistake 6: Using Non-Standard Section Headers
ATS software is trained to recognize specific section names. "My Journey" does not register as Experience. "What I Bring" does not register as Skills. "Academic Background" may or may not register as Education.
When a section header isn't recognized, the content beneath it may be unscored or misassigned.
The fix: Use standard headers: Summary, Experience, Education, Skills. Nothing creative. These are not arbitrary — they are what ATS systems are programmed to expect.
Mistake 7: Contact Information in Headers, Footers, or Text Boxes
Document headers, footers, and text boxes are often skipped or extracted out of order by ATS parsers. If your name and contact information live in a styled header or text box (common in designed templates), there is a real chance the ATS cannot read it correctly.
The fix: Put your name and contact information as plain text at the very top of the document body — not in the document header. Email, phone, LinkedIn URL, location as a single line of text.
How to Check How Many of These You're Making
Paste your resume into ScoreMyResume along with a specific job description. The format readability score will flag structural issues. The keyword match score will show you how far off your language is from the job description. The overall score gives you a baseline before and after fixing.
Most people who fix all seven of these mistakes see their ATS score improve by 20-40 points.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which of these mistakes hurts ATS scores the most?
In our experience, the column layout and wrong-language issues are the highest-impact mistakes. A well-written resume in the wrong format can score 25 points lower than a plain-text version of the same content. Wrong language costs even more because it directly reduces keyword match scores.
Can I fix these mistakes without rewriting my whole resume?
Most of these fixes are structural rather than content rewrites. Switching to a single-column layout, using standard headers, and moving contact info out of a text box can be done in 30 minutes. The keyword language fix takes more time but is targeted — you only need to update bullet points where the language diverges from the job description.
Related reading: How to Beat ATS Resume Screening in 2026 · Can an ATS Resume Have Columns? · How ATS Parsers Actually Read Your Resume