As an international student, getting your resume noticed in the U.S. job market can feel like an uphill battle.
You might be doing everything you think is right, but some of the advice you’ve heard could actually be holding you back.
Here’s something that might surprise you. Recruiters spend just 6 to 7 seconds scanning a resume before deciding if it goes in the ‘yes’ pile or the ‘no’ pile.
That’s all the time you have to make an impression, so every word and detail matters.
In this blog post, I’m going to walk you through the top 5 resume mistakes I see international students making over and over again.
The good news?
These are easy to fix and can make a huge difference in how recruiters see you. Let’s dive in!
Listing Hobbies and Interests
One of the most common mistakes international students make is including hobbies and personal interests on their resume.
You might think that sharing things like ‘playing guitar’ or ‘traveling’ helps show off your personality, but U.S. employers care more about how you fit the role than your personal interests.
In some countries, adding hobbies to your resume is a common way to give potential employers a sense of who you are outside of work.
But in the U.S., that real estate on your resume is precious. Recruiters are much more interested in the skills and achievements that show how you’ll contribute to their team.
There is a rare exception: if your hobby demonstrates leadership or teamwork, like organizing a coding club or leading a volunteer project, it might be worth mentioning.
But random hobbies like cooking or playing video games? Not so much.
Focus on what really matters—your experience, skills, and achievements—and you’ll impress a hiring manager for the right reasons.
Emphasizing Responsibilities Instead of Impact
Another big mistake is focusing on responsibilities instead of impact.
It’s easy to list what you were responsible for on your resume such as ‘Responsible for managing projects’ or ‘Handled customer inquiries.’
But recruiters don’t just want to know what you did. They want to know how you made a difference.
When they see a bullet point like ‘Managed a team,’ they’re thinking, “Okay, but what did you actually achieve?”
How to Show Impact
It’s all about outcomes. Let’s break it down with examples based on different majors:
- An Engineering Student: Instead of ‘Responsible for testing software,’ try ‘Led a team to identify and resolve 95% of bugs, improving system performance by 20%.’
- A Business Student: Instead of ‘Managed a team of interns,’ say ‘Managed 5 interns, increasing project delivery efficiency by 15%.’
- A Liberal Arts Student: Rather than ‘Assisted with research,’ go with ‘Conducted research that led to publication in a competitive academic conference.’
These examples show measurable results, which is what recruiters are looking for.
It’s not about bragging, it’s about showing the value you can bring.
Including a Photo
In some countries, adding a professional photo to your resume is standard practice.
But in the U.S., this can be a big red flag for recruiters. Employers here are strict about avoiding any form of discrimination, whether based on race, age, or gender.
When a recruiter sees a photo on your resume, it can make them uncomfortable. They don’t want to risk making biased decisions, even unintentionally.
Plus, many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen resumes, and including a photo can interfere with how the system reads your resume.
The Solution
Keep it professional and stick to the basics: your name, contact info, and maybe a LinkedIn profile. No photo needed.
Employers care about your skills and achievements, not how you look. And if they want to see more, that’s what LinkedIn is for.
Providing Too Much Information
You’ve worked hard to get where you are, and it’s tempting to pack everything into your resume. But recruiters don’t want to read your life story. They’re looking for highlights.
When you add too much information, especially things not directly related to the job you’re applying for, it can work against you.
Recruiters spend only a few seconds on each resume, so if they are bombarded with irrelevant details or a resume that’s too long, they might move on to the next candidate.
The Right Approach
Keep your resume concise and focused. It should be one page, especially if you’re just starting out or have limited professional work experience.
Only include the most relevant information for the job you’re applying for. Always ask yourself, “Does this experience help tell my story as the best fit for this role?”
Using Overly Designed or Complex Resume Templates
Using a flashy design or cool graphics might seem like a good way to make your resume stand out. But in the U.S., resumes are all about content over design.
Many U.S. companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen resumes.
These systems aren’t designed to handle complex layouts or images.
If your resume is full of graphics, columns, or unusual fonts, there’s a good chance the system won’t read it properly, and your resume could be rejected before it even reaches a human recruiter.
The Solution
Keep it clean and simple. Stick to a straightforward format with clear headings, bullet points, and standard fonts.
Your resume should focus on your achievements, skills, and experience. Let the design support that, not distract from it.
Avoiding these five common resume mistakes will put you ahead in the competitive U.S. job market.
And if you’re wondering how to build a simple yet professional resume that stands out, check out our resume templates designed specifically for international students.
They’re ATS-friendly and built to help you land jobs in the U.S.
