10 Resume Red Flags Recruiters Always Notice (Yes, in 10 Seconds or Less)

I'm a recruiter. I've seen tens of thousands of resumes, and trust me—I only spend about 10 seconds on each one at first glance (yep, I timed it). We get hundreds, sometimes thousands, a day. Harsh but true: we’re actively looking for reasons to reject rather than accept.

Here are the biggest resume red flags we notice immediately—backed up by real research and my own experiences:

1. Loud, Cluttered Layouts Overly flashy resumes with multiple colors, fonts, or clutter instantly suggest a lack of professionalism. Eye-tracking studies show recruiters strongly prefer simple, clear formats. If your resume resembles an abstract painting, simplify it.