Issue #28: Before & After: Transforming a UX Resume That Wasn’t Working

On the surface, this resume looks clean and professional. But hidden issues were quietly holding the designer back from interviews. Can you spot them?

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Hiring managers skim resumes in seconds. If we can’t instantly understand who you are, what role you’re targeting, and why you’re valuable, we move on.

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Let’s break down the 10 biggest mistakes I found in this Level^Up student's resume, why they matter, and how fixing them can make the difference between being ignored and landing interviews.

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10 Resume Mistakes That Kill Your Chances

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1. Missing job title​
   Without a clear title at the top, recruiters can’t quickly determine the role you’re targeting — forcing them to guess or move on.
2. No LinkedIn URL​
   Leaving out your LinkedIn link makes it harder for recruiters to explore your background, see endorsements, or understand your industry involvement.
3. Disconnected layout for roles​
   Splitting company/title on the left and dates/location on the right disrupts visual flow and makes the resume harder to scan at a glance.
4. Bullets not broken out​
   Combining multiple accomplishments into a single block increases cognitive load and makes your impact harder to digest.
5. Inconsistent verb tense​
   Mixed tenses suggest a lack of attention to detail and undermine credibility.
6. Only one vague accomplishment​
   Listing just one unspecific achievement fails to show the scope of your contributions or the results you delivered.
7. Excessive white space​
   Large, unused areas waste valuable real estate and create imbalance — space that could highlight your strengths instead.
8. Generic language​
   Descriptions like “helped with design” or “supported development” don’t clarify what you actually did or how it mattered.
9. Skills as a dense paragraph​
   Presenting skills in one unformatted block makes them harder to scan and align with job criteria.
10. Irrelevant education history​
    Listing pre-university education adds clutter and rarely contributes value unless it’s tied directly to your current field.

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🎁 Bonus Mistake #11: Wasted Space Across the Page

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A mostly blank second page or scattered layout signals poor hierarchy. Every section should be intentional and well-structured. As a designer, your resume should showcase your ability to create clear layouts and hierarchy just as much as your background and experience.

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This is one of the easiest mistakes to fix, but also one of the most common. Aim to fit key content on a single, well-designed page unless you have highly relevant, senior-level experience that justifies more.

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The “After” Version: What Changed

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Here’s how I helped my student redesign this resume using Level^Up strategies:

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• Added a clear UX-focused job title at the top to establish direction.
• Reformatted work history into a consistent, scannable layout.
• Broke out accomplishments into short, impact-driven bullets.
• Replaced vague tasks with results and metrics (e.g., “Increased conversion rates by 25%”).
• Reduced clutter by cutting irrelevant details and focusing on the most relevant skills.
• Balanced whitespace for readability while using space effectively to highlight strengths.

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The difference? A resume that immediately communicates value, is easier to skim, and positions the designer as a strong UX candidate.

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Why This Matters

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Your resume is not just a record of past jobs, it’s also a marketing document.

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Hiring managers aren’t looking for “everything you’ve done.” We want to quickly understand:

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• What role you’re aiming for (include your title)
• What skills you bring (make it clear)
• What results you’ve delivered (show impact)

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Fixing these mistakes takes your resume from “easy to ignore” to “worth an interview.”

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See the Full Before & After

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Want to see the redesigned version side-by-side with the original? Scroll down to download the complete side-by-side breakdown with visuals.

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Until next time,​

David Campana
​Founder, Level^Up​
​Ex-Apple, WeWork, Verizon | Top 1% ADPList Mentor