1. Treating the Resume Like a CV (Too Long, Too Detailed)

In Vietnam, resumes are often long, detailed, and personal.

In the U.S., resumes are expected to be:

• 1 page (2 pages max for senior roles)
• Focused on impact
• Easy to scan in 6–10 seconds

Common mistake: Including every job, course, and responsibility.

Fix:

• Keep only relevant experience
• Focus on results, not tasks

2. Listing Responsibilities Instead of Results

U.S. employers care about what changed because of you.

Weak example: “Responsible for customer support.”

Strong example: “Handled 50+ customer tickets per day with a 95% satisfaction rating.”

Numbers = credibility.

3. Using Poor or Overly Formal English

Many resumes sound like Google Translate. Others sound too formal, like a legal document.

Problematic phrases:

• “I am responsible for…”
• “I have opportunity to…”
• “Worked hard and enthusiastic.”

Fix: Use simple, natural business English verbs:

• Managed
• Improved
• Led
• Delivered
• Reduced

Clear beats fancy.

4. Including Personal Information U.S. Employers Don’t Want

This is one of the biggest differences.

Vietnamese resumes often include:

• Date of birth
• Gender
• Marital status
• Photo

In the U.S.: This information is unnecessary and sometimes risky for employers.

Fix: Remove all personal details except:

• Name
• Email
• Phone
• LinkedIn

5. Weak or Generic Summary Statements

Many summaries say nothing.

Bad example: “Hard-working and eager to learn.”

This describes almost everyone.

Strong summary: “Customer support specialist with 3 years of experience supporting U.S. customers via email and chat.”

Fix: Be specific.

6. Poor Formatting & Hard-to-Scan Layout

Recruiters skim. If your resume is crowded, misaligned, or hard to read—it gets skipped.

Fix:

• Use clear section headers
• Use consistent bullet points
• Add white space

Design clarity > decoration.

7. Not Tailoring the Resume to the Job

Sending one resume to 50 jobs rarely works.

Common mistake: Using the same resume for marketing, admin, and customer support roles.

Fix: Adjust these sections to match each role:

• Summary
• Skills
• Bullet points (experience)

8. Weak English Skill Representation

Many candidates either overestimate (“Fluent”) or undersell (“Basic English”).

Fix: Be honest and specific, for example:

• “Professional working proficiency”
• “Comfortable with email and meetings”

Employers value honesty.

9. Listing Skills Without Proof

Weak: “Teamwork, communication, leadership.”

Strong: “Led a 5-person remote team across two time zones.”

Fix: Show, don’t tell.

10. Grammar & Spelling Errors (Especially Small Ones)

Small mistakes suggest lack of attention and poor communication.

Fix:

• Use Grammarly
• Read out loud
• Ask someone fluent to review

One typo can cost an interview.

10 Lỗi Phổ Biến Nhất Của Ứng Viên Việt Nam Trên CV Tiếng Anh (Và Cách Sửa Để Ghi Điểm Với Nhà Tuyển Dụng Mỹ & Quốc Tế)

(Bạn có thể dán nguyên văn toàn bộ phần tiếng Việt bạn đã viết vào đây. Nếu bạn muốn mình “format” lại cho đúng từng mục 1–10 giống phần English (dễ đọc hơn trên web), gửi mình ok — mình sẽ chuyển thành đúng cấu trúc từng mục với bullet + ví dụ.)

CV tiếng Anh tốt không cần hoàn hảo. Nó cần: rõ ràng, đúng trọng tâm, có kết quả, dễ đọc. Chỉ cần chỉnh CV đúng cách, tỷ lệ được gọi phỏng vấn sẽ tăng mạnh.