10 Resume Mistakes That Kill Placement Chances in 2026

In the 2026 job market, recruiters spend less than 6 seconds on your resume. If you make any of these critical errors, your chances of a callback are near zero.

1. Using Incompatible Fonts

ATS scanners struggle with non-standard fonts. Stick to Arial, Calibri, or Georgia. Avoid custom 'Creative' fonts.

2. Multi-Column Layouts

Scanners read top-to-bottom. Columns often cause the software to merge your experience with your education, creating a garbled mess.

3. Missing Contact Information

If the bot can't find your phone number or email string, it can't move you to the 'Interview' stage.

4. Lack of Metrics

'Good at C++' means nothing. 'Optimized C++ algorithms to reduce execution time by 40%' means everything.

FAQ

Q: Can I use colors on my resume? A: It's best to keep it professional. High contrast (Black on White) ensures the best OCR (Optical Character Recognition) performance.