How to Ruin Your Resume – And What to Do Instead

If you're applying for jobs in IT sales, PreSales, or cybersecurity, your resume is your first impression – and often your only chance to get noticed.

But here's the hard truth: most resumes are skimmed, not read. Recruiters, hiring managers, and headhunters like myself scan hundreds of profiles every week. If your CV doesn't show relevance and value within the first 20-30 seconds, it's likely dismissed.

This article is not another fluff piece on "how to stand out." Instead, it highlights the real-world mistakes I see every day – and what you should do differently if you want to land interviews.

Mistake 1: No clear narrative or career direction

Jumping from one job to the next, switching industries without explanation, or presenting a chaotic sequence of roles – all of this raises questions.

What to do instead: Create a narrative. Your CV should tell a story: Where have you been? What have you learned? Where are you going? Add a short professional summary that explains who you are and why your experience is relevant now.

Mistake 2: Staying too long in your comfort zone

Ten years in one company without new skills, certifications, or technological growth? That shows loyalty – but also stagnation.

What to do instead: Showcase continuous learning. Mention relevant training, certifications, or the adoption of new tools (e.g. CRM platforms, SaaS experience, cybersecurity frameworks). This signals adaptability and initiative.

Mistake 3: Copy-pasting job descriptions instead of showing impact

One of the most common mistakes: listing your responsibilities instead of your results. Recruiters know what an Account Executive or PreSales Engineer does. They want to know what you achieved.

What to do instead: Highlight KPIs, quotas, project outcomes, and business value. Think in terms of growth, impact, and scale.

Example:

• Bad: "Responsible for enterprise accounts in the DACH region"

• Better: "Achieved 112% of 4M€ quota in FY23, closed 3 new enterprise clients worth 1M€+ each"

Mistake 4: Overcomplicating your resume

Too much jargon, long-winded explanations, outdated roles from the 90s, or internal titles no one understands – all of this makes your resume harder to grasp.

What to do instead: Keep it clean, focused, and easy to scan. Two pages max. Use bullet points, clear headings, and common role titles. Translate company-internal terms into industry-understood language.

Mistake 5: Thinking your cover letter will save the day

Let’s be honest: Most cover letters are no longer read. In a world of AI-generated templates, they’ve lost much of their meaning.

What to do instead: Focus on your CV and LinkedIn profile. Build trust through recommendations, a clear track record, and direct outreach when appropriate.

Mistake 6: No customization, no response

If you send the same resume to 30 companies without adjusting it to the role – don’t be surprised when you don’t hear back.

What to do instead: Tailor your resume to each opportunity. Emphasize what matches the job. Don’t leave it to the reader to figure out why you’re relevant – make it obvious.

Final thought: Your resume is not your biography – it's your ticket to a conversation

The only purpose of a resume is to get you that first interview slot. If it does that, it's done its job.

If you’re in IT sales, PreSales, or cybersecurity and your resume isn’t converting, I’m happy to help. As a headhunter with over 18 years of experience, I see what works and what doesn't – every single day.

Reach out if you want a real opinion on your CV.

More at: www.nordh.de