RESUME MISTAKES
Stop Losing Deals Because of Your Resume
Identify and fix the biggest Account Manager resume mistakes that keep hiring managers from calling you back.
How This Page Helps
This guide helps Account Managers spot critical resume errors, understand why they hurt, and apply actionable fixes to boost ATS compatibility and recruiter appeal.
Spot the 5 most damaging resume mistakes
Learn why each mistake reduces your chances
Get exact before‑and‑after phrasing examples
Apply ATS‑friendly formatting tips
Use a ready‑to‑use checklist and mini‑workshop
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Generic or vague job titlesHIGH
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers can’t gauge your seniority
- ATS may not match your role to the target keyword
How to fix
- Replace with specific titles like 'Senior Account Manager – Enterprise Sales'
- Add a brief role qualifier in parentheses if needed
❌ Before
Account Manager
✓ After
Senior Account Manager – Enterprise Sales
ATS Tip
Include the exact title from the job posting to improve keyword match
Detection Rules
title contains only 'Account Manager' without qualifier
no seniority level indicated
Resumly Tip
Resumly flags titles that lack seniority or industry specifics.
Focus on duties, not resultsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Doesn’t demonstrate impact
- Recruiters skim for numbers and outcomes
How to fix
- Quantify results (e.g., increased revenue by 20%)
- Start bullet points with action verbs and metrics
❌ Before
Managed client accounts and ensured satisfaction.
✓ After
Managed 30+ enterprise client accounts, achieving a 95% satisfaction rate and driving $1.2M in upsell revenue.
ATS Tip
Use numbers and keywords like 'revenue growth', 'client retention'.
Detection Rules
bullets start with verbs like 'Managed' without metrics
absence of percentages or dollar amounts
Resumly Tip
Resumly highlights bullets lacking quantifiable outcomes.
Inconsistent formatting and date stylesMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- ATS may misread sections
- Hiring managers view it as unprofessional
How to fix
- Use a uniform date format (MM/YYYY)
- Align headings and bullet indentation
- Leave one blank line between sections
❌ Before
Jan 2020 – March 2022 Account Manager XYZ Corp
✓ After
Account Manager, XYZ Corp 02/2020 – 03/2022
ATS Tip
Standardize dates to MM/YYYY for ATS parsing.
Detection Rules
mixed month formats, varied spacing
different heading styles
Resumly Tip
Resumly checks for date format consistency.
Lack of industry‑specific keywordsHIGH
Why it hurts
- ATS filters out resumes without matching terms
- Recruiters may overlook your fit
How to fix
- Extract top keywords from the job description (e.g., 'pipeline management', 'quota attainment')
- Integrate them naturally throughout experience and skills sections
❌ Before
Responsible for client communication.
✓ After
Led pipeline management and achieved 110% of quarterly quota through strategic client communication.
ATS Tip
Place keywords in headings, bullet points, and skills list.
Detection Rules
absence of words like 'quota', 'pipeline', 'CRM'
Resumly Tip
Resumly scans for missing high‑impact keywords.
Listing soft skills without proofLOW
Why it hurts
- Adds fluff, reduces space for achievements
- ATS may ignore generic terms
How to fix
- Show soft skills through achievements (e.g., 'Negotiated contracts resulting in 15% cost savings')
- Keep soft‑skill list brief and targeted
❌ Before
Skills: Communication, Teamwork, Leadership.
✓ After
Negotiated contracts (leadership) saving 15% costs; coordinated cross‑functional teams (teamwork) to launch new product line.
ATS Tip
Replace generic soft skills with concrete examples.
Detection Rules
skills section contains only generic terms
Resumly Tip
Resumly suggests converting soft skills into measurable achievements.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Header, Professional Summary, Core Competencies, Professional Experience, Education, Certifications, Technical Skills
Naming: FirstName_LastName_AccountManager.pdf
Consistency
Length: 1‑2 pages for mid‑level Account Managers; 2 pages max for senior roles
Date Format: MM/YYYY
Location Format: City, State (or Country)
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use a clear, specific job title
- Show quantified achievements for each role
- Include 5–7 relevant keywords
- Maintain consistent formatting and dates
- Limit resume to 1‑2 pages
- Proofread for spelling and grammar
- Save as PDF with proper file name
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: Workday, iCIMS, Greenhouse, Lever, SmartRecruiters
Keyword Strategy: Focus on terms like 'client acquisition', 'revenue growth', 'pipeline management', 'quota attainment', 'CRM (Salesforce)'.
Heading Format: Use standard headings: Professional Summary, Core Competencies, Professional Experience, Education, Certifications, Technical Skills.
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current Account Manager resume text
- Standardize job titles
- Add quantifiable results
- Insert top industry keywords
- Align date format to MM/YYYY
- Reformat sections for ATS readability
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