What skills not to put on a resume?

Asked by: Cecile Runolfsdottir DDS  |  Last update: June 13, 2026
Score: 4.8/5 (17 votes)

You should not put generic, obvious, irrelevant, or exaggerated skills on your resume; instead of listing soft skills like "good communication," show them in your bullet points with specific examples, and avoid basic computer skills (Word, email) unless required, focusing on relevant, quantifiable, and specific hard skills that match the job description.

What skills should I not put on my resume?

  • Some skills that I have that I would not put on a job resume would be things like:
  • - Being able to read people well
  • - Being able to communicate effectively
  • - Being able to work well under pressure
  • - Being able to think on my feet
  • - Being able to find creative solutions to problems

What are the three F's in a resume?

Having less than ten seconds to prove qualifications for a position enforces the idea that the focus point of drafting a resume, should be to stick to the Three Fs of Resume Writing: Function, Form, and e(F)fectiveness.

What looks unprofessional on a resume?

An unprofessional resume is marked by errors (typos, grammar, factual inaccuracies), poor formatting (clutter, tiny text, "funky" fonts, overly complex designs), irrelevant content (hobbies, personal info like age/marital status, photos, politics/religion), weak language, and generic, untailored information that lacks quantification or focus on the specific job, creating a careless or unfocused impression.
 

What are red flags on a resume?

Resume red flags are warning signs that can get you rejected, including typos/grammar errors, unexplained employment gaps, job hopping, a lack of quantifiable achievements, poor formatting, not tailoring the resume to the job, and including irrelevant personal details or outdated skills, all signaling a lack of attention to detail, professionalism, or relevance for the role.
 

Your Resume Skills Section | Do's and Don'ts

30 related questions found

What are the 3 C's of a resume?

The 3 C's of a resume typically refer to Clear, Concise, and Consistent formatting and content, ensuring your skills and experience are easy to read, brief, and follow a uniform style, while other interpretations focus on Competence, Character, and Chemistry for hiring, or Clarity, Connections, and Confidence for job search strategy. The most common resume advice emphasizes making it easy for recruiters to quickly grasp your qualifications through clear, brief, and consistent presentation. 

What are the top 5 resume mistakes?

The top 5 resume mistakes include typos and grammar errors, not tailoring the resume to the specific job, focusing on responsibilities instead of quantifiable achievements, using poor or complex formatting, and including irrelevant or outdated information/objective statements, all leading to a generic, hard-to-read document that fails to impress recruiters or pass Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). 

What are the 5 P's of a resume?

The "5 Ps of a Resume" aren't a single, universally agreed-upon list, but often refer to key principles like Positioning, Presentation, Personalization, Proofreading, and Persistence (or Purpose, Precision, Professionalism) for a strong job application, focusing on tailoring content (Positioning/Personalization), clear formatting (Presentation/Professionalism), error-free text (Proofreading/Precision), and a strategic job search (Persistence) to stand out as a solution for the employer. 

What do employers not want to see on a resume?

  • Unprofessional email.
  • Full mailing address.
  • Multiple phone numbers.
  • Outdated or irrelevant social media profiles.
  • Resume objective statement.
  • Personal details.
  • Headshot.
  • Buzzwords.

What looks good on a resume?

DO:

  • Be consistent in format and content.
  • Make it easy to read and follow, balancing white space.
  • Use consistent spacing, underlining, italics, bold, and capitalization for emphasis.
  • List headings (such as Experience) in order of importance.
  • Within headings, list information in reverse chronological order (most recent first)

What is a 7 second resume?

Hiring managers only spend an average of seven seconds looking at a resume. That's a huge barrier to overcome, especially for candidates without a college degree or traditional experience. So we set out to change that. To change the behavior of hiring managers who were set in their ways.

What are the three most important things on a resume?

We consulted our AllSearch Team of 30+ experts about what should always be on your resume. The obvious ones being, your name and contact information, a short but concise list of relevant tools and skills you have, and your education or professional experience you have had in the past.

What are 2025 resume buzzwords to avoid?

For 2025, avoid generic, overused resume buzzwords like "results-driven," "passionate," "synergy," "ninja," "rockstar," "think outside the box," "proven track record," "hard worker," "team player," "dynamic," and "agile," as they lack substance; instead, demonstrate these qualities with specific, quantifiable achievements and strong action verbs to show your true impact and value to employers. 

What are 10 hard skills?

Ten key hard skills include Data Analysis, Programming (Python/Java), Digital Marketing (SEO), Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, Project Management, Graphic Design (Adobe Suite), Foreign Languages, AI/Machine Learning, and UX/UI Design, representing in-demand technical and specialized abilities across various modern industries.
 

Do and don'ts of resume?

Do's & Don'ts of Resume Writing

  • Determine your job search objective prior to writing the resume and tailor your resume for the position.
  • Customize your resume to match a specific job description. ...
  • Focus on positive results and accomplishments.
  • Keep a consistent, easily-readable format.

How to make your resume stand out?

How can you make your resume stand out to an employer? Use an easy-to-read format and structure that highlights your relevant education and experience. Develop bullet points or statements to show relevant skills and qualities. Be specific about what you did and how you did it.

How many key skills should you list on a resume?

How many skills should I include on my resume? You should include the skills that are most relevant to the job, but try to keep it to around 10-15 skills. Including too many skills can make your resume look cluttered and unfocused.

What are the 5 golden rules of resume writing?

The five core principles of resume writing are Relevance/Targeting, Quantifiable Achievements, Clarity/Conciseness, Professional Presentation, and Accuracy/Proofreading, focusing on tailoring content with numbers and keywords to be easily scannable, demonstrating value, and being error-free to impress hiring managers quickly. 

What makes a resume look unprofessional?

An unprofessional resume is marked by errors (typos, grammar, factual inaccuracies), poor formatting (clutter, tiny text, "funky" fonts, overly complex designs), irrelevant content (hobbies, personal info like age/marital status, photos, politics/religion), weak language, and generic, untailored information that lacks quantification or focus on the specific job, creating a careless or unfocused impression.
 

Do employers forgive applicants bad spelling in resumes?

Spelling & grammar errors

One typo could be forgiven if the rest of your application is great but resumes containing multiple spelling errors and poor grammar will be rejected. We recommend you read and re-read your resume and get a friend to check it and provide some feedback.

What are the top 5 skills for a resume?

The top 5 skills for a resume generally focus on Communication, Problem-Solving, Teamwork/Collaboration, Adaptability, and Leadership, blending core interpersonal abilities with practical application, though hard/technical skills specific to the industry are also crucial alongside these. Employers want to see these soft skills demonstrated in your experience, not just listed, proving you can work well with others and contribute strategically.
 

What are the three F's of resume writing?

The 3 F's of resume writing are Function, Form(at) and (e)Ffectiveness. When these 3 elements are adhered to simultaneously in the resume, they make it the perfect fit for the role you're applying to.

What is the key to a good resume?

Wherever you are in your career, following these guidelines will help as you're writing your résumé:

  • Give yourself credit. ...
  • Highlight your education. ...
  • Write professionally. ...
  • Avoid jargon. ...
  • Think beyond “jobs.” ...
  • Don't overdo it. ...
  • Keep things relevant. ...
  • Start with your story.