Your résumé is often your first handshake with a hiring manager, especially in tech, where many interviews start with an ATS (applicant tracking system) scan rather than a phone call. Yet plenty of well meaning developers, engineers, and IT pros keep recycling outdated advice that quietly drags their application to the bottom of the stack.
At Morton, we review thousands of tech résumés a year. We see what helps you stand out and what quietly sends you to the “maybe later” pile. Below are the biggest myths we still hear, plus quick fixes to get you back on track.
Myth 1: “List every technology you’ve ever touched.”
Reality: Laundry lists feel unfocused. Recruiters want depth over breadth. Fix it:
- Group tools by category (e.g., Cloud: AWS | Azure).
- Highlight the 3–5 skills most relevant to the role.
- Show depth with a one-sentence impact metric:
- “Improved S3 retrieval speeds by 40% using lifecycle policies.”
Myth 2: “More pages = more impressive.”
Reality: Most tech hiring managers spend 15–30 seconds on the first scan. A three-page PDF rarely survives. Fix it:
- Target one page for early-career, two max for seasoned pros.
- Trim college projects older than three years (unless bleeding-edge).
- Move extensive tool lists to a tidy sidebar or skills section.
Myth 3: “If you beat the ATS with keywords, you’re golden.”
Reality: Keyword stuffing may pass the bot but it turns off human reviewers. Fix it:
- Mirror the job posting’s terminology sparingly.
- Replace buzzwords with proof:
- *“Led” → “Led a five-engineer team to cut page load time from 600 ms to 180 ms.”
- Use plain language, ATS platforms read that just fine.
Myth 4: “Soft skills aren’t important for tech roles.”
Reality: Collaboration tools, Agile sprints, and DevOps all hinge on communication. Ignoring soft skills can cost you interviews.
Fix it:
- Pair technical wins with people wins:
- “Facilitated bi-weekly retros, increasing sprint velocity from 32 to 46 story points.”
- Sprinkle in key phrases, stakeholder alignment, cross-team mentoring, conflict resolution to show you’re more than syntax.
Myth 5: “Side projects and GitHub links look amateur.”
Reality: For many tech recruiters, a live GitHub repo is better than a bullet point.
Fix it:
- Add a “Select Projects” section with one-line summaries and links.
- Showcase unique passion projects—open-source commits, IoT hacks, or a personal API. They reveal curiosity and self-direction.
Myth 6: “The résumé ends at ‘References available upon request.’”
Reality:
That line is redundant and wastes premium space.
Fix it:
- Delete the phrase.
- Use the space for a concise Tech Stack Snapshot or a standout achievement.
Quick Formatting Wins
Old Habit
- Times New Roman, 10 pt
- Dense paragraphs
- Generic objective
Morton-Approved Upgrade
- Modern sans-serif (e.g., Calibri, 11 pt)
- Bullet points + white space
- One-sentence value statement: “Fullstack engineer who turns complex business challenges into scalable, secure solutions.”
The Takeaway
Your résumé shouldn’t read like a parts catalog. It should tell a concise story of problems solved, teams supported, and systems improved. By ditching these myths and focusing on clarity, impact, and relevance, you’ll leapfrog past candidates who still believe “more is more.”
Ready for a résumé reality-check? The Morton Way means honest feedback and people-first guidance so the next time your résumé lands on a desk (or in an ATS), it lands with impact.