Here’s why this happens in India’s hiring market — and how to fix it.

1. Overused Buzzwords Make You Look Like Everyone Else

Recruiters see thousands of resumes filled with:

Results-driven professional

Dynamic team player

Hardworking and passionate

Expert in multiple technologies

These phrases are so common that they signal copy-paste effort, not competence.

Why it feels fake:

Real professionals explain what they did, not how motivated they are.

Fix: Replace buzzwords with specific actions and outcomes.

2. Inflated Job Titles Raise Immediate Suspicion

Indian candidates often upgrade titles to sound senior:

Executive → Manager

Associate → Lead

Analyst → Senior Analyst

Recruiters cross-check titles with:

Company size

Years of experience

LinkedIn profiles

Red flag:

A 2-year experience candidate with a “Head” or “Lead” title.

Fix: Use official titles and explain responsibility growth inside bullet points.

3. Too Many Skills for Your Experience Level

A fresher claiming:

10+ tools

5 programming languages

Multiple domains

looks unrealistic.

What recruiters think:

“Nobody masters all this in 1–2 years.”

Fix: List core skills you actually used, not everything you touched once.

4. Generic Achievements With No Proof

Statements like:

Improved company performance

Increased sales

Optimized operations

sound impressive — but empty.

Why it feels fake:

There’s no context, scale, or result.

Fix: Add numbers, timelines, or scope.

Example:

Increased lead conversion rate by 18% in 6 months using targeted campaigns

5. Resume Doesn’t Match LinkedIn

Recruiters almost always cross-check.

Mismatches in:

Job titles

Employment dates

Skills

create doubt — even if the mistake is unintentional.

Fix: Ensure your resume and LinkedIn are 100% aligned.

6. Unrealistic Career Growth Timeline

Indian recruiters closely observe progression.

Example that raises eyebrows:

Intern → Manager → Senior Manager in 3 years

Even if true, it sounds unbelievable without explanation.

Fix: Clearly show promotions, role changes, and company context.

7. Template-Heavy Resume Design

Overdesigned resumes with:

Icons everywhere

Rating bars for skills

Fancy fonts

look stylish — but suspicious.

Why recruiters dislike this:

Hard to scan

ATS issues

Looks like a downloaded template

Fix: Use a clean, simple, text-focused format.

8. Vague Project Descriptions

Especially common with freshers.

Writing:

Worked on live projects

means nothing to recruiters.

Fix: Explain:

What the project was

Your exact role

Tools used

Outcome

9. Missing Basics That Signal Carelessness

Small mistakes create big doubts:

No dates or locations

Inconsistent formatting

Spelling errors

Unprofessional email IDs

Recruiters assume:

“If this is careless, work quality might be too.”

Why Recruiters Reject “Real” Resumes

It’s not about honesty.

It’s about believability.

Recruiters ask themselves:

Does this career story make sense?

Does this experience match the market?

Would I risk calling this candidate?

If the answer feels uncertain, they move on.

How to Make Your Resume Look Authentic

✔ Use specific, simple language
✔ Show depth, not breadth
✔ Align resume with LinkedIn
✔ Explain growth logically
✔ Focus on impact, not adjectives

Final Thoughts

In India’s crowded job market, being genuine is not enough — you must look credible.

A strong resume doesn’t exaggerate.
It convinces.

Before sending your resume, ask:

“Would this sound believable to someone hiring today?”

Want more honest job-search advice?
Read more resume and hiring insights on JobinIndia to improve your chances.