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Over the past few years, I've reviewed several hundreds of resumes for tech, marketing, design sales and operations at Packative. As a foreign founder operating in Korea, I've encountered a recurring pattern: many candidates, despite impressive credentials, fall short in their applications. It's time I share my opinionated thoughts about this - with the hope the help candidates stand out.

Why your resume gets rejected in 7 seconds (From a founder who's seen hundreds)

Over the past few years, I've reviewed several hundreds of resumes for tech, marketing, design sales and operations at Packative. As a foreign founder operating in Korea, I've encountered a recurring pattern: many candidates, despite impressive credentials, fall short in their applications. It's time I share my opinionated thoughts about this - with the hope the help candidates stand out.

I am sure you have read this - Recruiters, on average, spend about 7-9 seconds scanning a resume before deciding whether to proceed. In that brief window, clarity and relevance and for me personally - visibility paramount. For me personally, I would say it is probably somewhere between 5-50 seconds.

The brutal truth — Why you didn’t even get a callback

  • 🚩 Your CV looks like a tech keyword soup.

    It’s not the length of your stack that matters. It’s the depth.

    “Kafka, RabbitMQ, Docker, GraphQL, EB, EC2, Redis, Postgres, Next, Nest, Bash, C++, Rust, Java, React, Angular, MongoDB, PostgreSQL, Maria, Mysql, Spring, Java, Python, Machine Learning, Pytorch…” — Cool.... But did you even use them in production?

  • 🚩 You're “senior” in title but junior in description.

    “Created HTML/CSS pages” doesn't make the cut. Show me real architecture, decisions, trade-offs, ownership.

  • 🚩 Your layout screams “I don’t care.”

    Overlapping text. No spacing. Bullet point spam. I spent 9 seconds on your CV, and 7 were spent trying to find your actual experience.

  • 🚩 Your introduction shouts “desperation”

    No personalized introduction ... why you want to apply for the company. Who you are, whats your motivation, passion. You limit your-self to a single piece of paper, which makes it much easier to say no to. … I mean seriously …what happened to cover letters???

    Btw. One liners like ”Strong foundation in development, understand how to build and optimize websites.” Is NOT an acceptable intro!

Common pitfalls in tech applications

Generic project/role descriptions

Phrases like "Developed web pages using HTML/CSS" lack depth. What was the impact? Did you enhance user experience, reduce load times, or improve accessibility? The high level outcomes matters, it also shows the passion and ownership you bring and how well you connect your experience to the business side … especially for Senior positions.

Know your target

I've received several CVs where candidates simply PDF print out their Saramin CV and submit it as is. I really wonder what is the thought process behind that? If a Korean company hires you based on that alone, believe me …. you might want to reconsider working there.

If you have troubles building a CV, use services like Rezi, kickresume, resume.io

When applying to a position that's fully described in English, I expect an English resume. If you have a Korean one, great! Attach it as a separate file or after the English version.

So my tip - you applying for a job in a non-English speaking country on an English speaking position - having both language version submitted will never hurt your chances and makes it easier for organizations to share your resume within the team.

Poor formatting

A cluttered CV with inconsistent formatting can be a deal-breaker. Remember, if your CV isn't easy to read, it might not be read at all and will question your ability on organization and attention to detail. GO THE EXTRA MILE! Check your CV one more time!

Oversharing and over-applying

I appreciate candidates who take initiative, but there's a fine line between enthusiasm and overdoing it. Some applicants have sent their CVs to multiple members of our team or applied several times for the same position at the same time. This not only creates confusion but also reflects a lack of organization.

If you're applying to multiple roles or companies, consider using tools like Notion, Airtable, or Trello to track your applications. Maintaining a simple CRM can help you stay organized and avoid redundant applications.

Outdated or broken portfolio pages

Including a link to your portfolio can be a double-edged sword. While a well-maintained and current portfolio showcases your skills and professionalism, an outdated or non-functional one can significantly harm your application.

Recruiters often spend only a few minutes reviewing a candidate's portfolio. If your portfolio is outdated or contains broken links, it reflects poorly on your attention to detail and commitment to your craft.

If you're applying for a tech position and include a portfolio link, ensure that:

  • The link works — no 404s, no dead ends.

  • The content is up-to-date — old student projects from 2018 won’t cut it.

  • It looks clean and intentional — bootstrap framework in 2025? think again! design and usability matter even if you’re not a designer.

If you don't have the time or resources to maintain a high-quality portfolio, it's better to omit the link entirely. Alternatively, consider using platforms like GitHub to showcase your projects, ensuring that your repositories are well-documented and organized.

Neglecting your GitHub profile

Your GitHub profile can be a powerful extension of your CV, especially for tech roles. If your CV doesn't fully capture your capabilities, a well-maintained GitHub profile can bridge the gap.

Ensure your GitHub profile is clean and up-to-date. Pin your best projects, write clear README files, and consider adding a profile README to introduce yourself. Tools like GitHub Profile README Generator or GitHub Profile Templates can help you set this up in about 15 minutes.

Keep in mind, that’s my personal opinion, but one shaped by reviewing hundreds of applications and exchange with other founders.

Connect with Dominik

If you want to be next and contribute, send us an email to florian@dev-korea.com.

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