RESUME MISTAKES
Stop Losing Agronomy Jobs to a Flawed Resume
Identify and correct the critical mistakes that keep hiring managers from seeing your expertise.
How This Page Helps
Help agronomists create a compelling, ATS‑friendly resume that showcases scientific expertise, field experience, and impact.
Showcase measurable agronomic achievements
Align your resume with industry‑specific keywords
Present certifications and technical tools clearly
Use a clean, ATS‑compatible layout
Avoid common formatting pitfalls
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Using generic job titlesMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers can’t see your specific agronomy role
- ATS may not match industry keywords
How to fix
- Replace generic titles with precise ones like 'Crop Production Specialist' or 'Soil Fertility Analyst'
- Include the level (e.g., Senior, Junior) and focus area
❌ Before
Agronomist, XYZ Corp
✓ After
Senior Crop Production Specialist, XYZ Corp
ATS Tip
Match the exact title used in the job posting.
Detection Rules
title contains generic term 'Agronomist' without qualifier
no industry‑specific keyword
Resumly Tip
Add a qualifier to your title to boost relevance.
Listing duties instead of achievementsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Doesn’t demonstrate impact
- ATS looks for quantifiable results
How to fix
- Convert duties into results with numbers
- Show yield improvements, cost savings, research outcomes
❌ Before
Responsible for soil testing and fertilizer recommendations.
✓ After
Implemented a precision‑fertilizer program that increased corn yield by 12% and reduced input costs by $15,000 annually.
ATS Tip
Include action verbs and metrics.
Detection Rules
sentences start with 'Responsible for'
lack of percentages or numbers
Resumly Tip
Start each bullet with a verb and add a measurable outcome.
Omitting relevant certifications and softwareMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers miss key qualifications
- ATS keyword gaps cause resume to be filtered
How to fix
- Create a dedicated 'Certifications & Technical Skills' section
- List certifications like 'Certified Crop Adviser (CCA)' and software such as 'Agisoft, GIS, SAS'
❌ Before
Skills: Microsoft Office
✓ After
Certifications: Certified Crop Adviser (CCA); Technical Skills: GIS (ArcGIS), Remote Sensing (Agisoft), Data Analysis (R, SAS)
ATS Tip
Use exact certification names as they appear in job ads.
Detection Rules
no certifications listed
software list limited to generic office tools
Resumly Tip
Add a concise, keyword‑rich skills block.
Incorrect date or location formattingLOW
Why it hurts
- ATS may misinterpret dates
- Recruiters can’t gauge career timeline
How to fix
- Use month/year format (MM/YYYY)
- List city, state for each role
❌ Before
2018 – 2020, Farm
✓ After
June 2018 – August 2020, Des Moines, IA
ATS Tip
Consistent formatting helps parsing engines.
Detection Rules
dates missing month
location missing state
Resumly Tip
Standardize dates to MM/YYYY and include city, state.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Contact Information, Professional Summary, Core Competencies, Professional Experience, Education, Certifications & Technical Skills, Publications (optional)
Naming: FirstName_LastName_Agronomist_Resume
Consistency
Length: 1‑2 pages (max 2)
Date Format: MM/YYYY
Location Format: City, State (or Country)
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use a professional email address
- Add a headline with key agronomy terms
- Write a 2‑3 sentence summary highlighting expertise
- List achievements with numbers
- Include certifications like CCA
- Show proficiency with GIS, remote sensing, data analysis tools
- Format dates as MM/YYYY
- Proofread for spelling and grammar
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: iCIMS, Greenhouse, Workday, Lever
Keyword Strategy: Include terms like 'crop management', 'soil health', 'precision agriculture', 'yield optimization', 'sustainable farming'
Heading Format: Use clear headings such as 'Professional Experience' and 'Core Competencies' to match ATS expectations
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current agronomist resume text
- Standardize titles
- Add quantifiable achievements
- Insert certifications and software
- Reformat dates and locations
- Optimize keywords for agronomy roles
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