3 Resume Mistakes Even Senior Tech Leaders Make
And how to fix them — fast.
I’ve reviewed thousands of resumes in my career, many from seasoned technical professionals and executive leaders.
And here’s the truth:
Even the smartest people make resume mistakes — especially those who haven’t needed one in years.
Your resume isn’t just a list of jobs. It’s a strategic document that should answer one question:
Why should we want you in this role — right now?
Here are three of the most common mistakes I see — and what to do instead:
1. Leading with Responsibilities Instead of Impact
It’s easy to fall into the trap of listing your job duties:
• Led infrastructure projects
• Managed cross-functional teams
• Oversaw cloud migrations
These are fine — but they’re not memorable.
Better: Highlight the outcome of your leadership. Numbers, results, and transformations are what hiring teams notice.
• Led $5M infrastructure overhaul that cut downtime by 40%
• Managed 10-person DevOps team to deliver a scalable CI/CD pipeline ahead of schedule
• Oversaw global cloud migration across 6 regions with zero disruption to end users
2. Burying the Good Stuff
I often find your biggest wins on page 2… or hidden under generic titles like “Key Achievements.”
If you’ve led a turnaround, scaled a product, or delivered high-stakes results — that needs to be front and center.
Think of your resume like a product launch. You wouldn’t tuck the best features in the fine print.
3. Using Outdated Formats or Language
Nothing says “out of touch” like a cluttered layout, a lengthy objective statement, or buzzwords with no context (“dynamic leader with proven track record…”).
Instead:
- Use a clean, modern layout (bullet points, white space, no headshots or fancy graphics).
- Skip the “Objective” and start with a short, 3-4 line professional summary.
- Show, don’t tell. Replace jargon with real examples of what you’ve delivered.
One Final Thought
If you’ve spent most of your career being recruited or promoted without ever having to apply cold, writing your own resume can feel awkward.
But it’s worth getting right — especially in a competitive market where clarity and confidence open doors.
Need a second opinion?
I’m happy to give your resume a quick look and offer feedback. Just reach out.
PS: If you found this helpful, follow me for more hiring insights, executive search tips, and behind-the-scenes recruiter advice.