RESUME MISTAKES
Clear the Runway for Your Dream Job
Spot and fix the top resume mistakes that keep Air Traffic Controllers grounded.
How This Page Helps
Help Air Traffic Controllers create errorâfree, ATSâoptimized resumes that showcase precision, safety, and decisionâmaking skills.
Identify hidden formatting errors
Learn ATSâfriendly language for aviation roles
See beforeâandâafter resume snippets
Apply a stepâbyâstep checklist
Boost your chances of clearing the interview gate
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Using vague job titlesHIGH
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers canât gauge your exact role
- ATS may not match industryâspecific keywords
How to fix
- Replace generic titles with official FAAâapproved titles
- Add specific certifications (e.g., Tower Controller, Radar Supervisor)
â Before
Job Title: 'Controller'
â After
Job Title: 'Air Traffic Tower Controller (FAA Certified)'
ATS Tip
Include exact FAA position titles to match ATS keyword libraries.
Detection Rules
Title length < 5 characters
Missing FAA certification keywords
Resumly Tip
Hover over the title field to see suggested official titles.
Listing duties instead of achievementsMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Doesnât demonstrate impact
- ATS looks for quantifiable results
How to fix
- Turn responsibilities into results with metrics
- Show safety records, traffic volume handled, onâtime performance
â Before
Responsible for monitoring aircraft movements.
â After
Monitored and safely coordinated 120+ daily aircraft movements, achieving a 99.8% onâtime departure rate.
ATS Tip
Start bullet points with action verbs and include numbers.
Detection Rules
Bullet points start with 'Responsible for' or 'Managed' without numbers
Resumly Tip
Resumly suggests adding metrics when you type a duty.
Incorrect date format causing parsing errorsLOW
Why it hurts
- ATS may fail to read employment dates
- Hiring managers canât see career timeline
How to fix
- Use monthâyear format (MM/YYYY)
- Keep dates consistent across all entries
â Before
2019 â Present
â After
06/2019 â Present
ATS Tip
MM/YYYY is universally recognized by ATS.
Detection Rules
Date strings without slash or month name
Resumly Tip
Resumly autoâformats dates as you type.
Omitting safety and certification keywordsHIGH
Why it hurts
- ATS filters out resumes lacking core aviation terms
- Recruiters miss critical qualifications
How to fix
- Add certifications (e.g., FAA Tower Rating, ATC Radar Certification)
- Include safety metrics (e.g., 'Zero incidents')
â Before
Skills: communication, teamwork
â After
Skills: FAA Tower Rating, ATC Radar Certification, Safety Management System, Zero incidents in 3 years
ATS Tip
Match keywords from the job posting exactly.
Detection Rules
Missing 'FAA', 'certification', 'safety' terms
Resumly Tip
Keyword scanner highlights missing aviation terms.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Contact Information, Professional Summary, Certifications, Work Experience, Key Achievements, Education, Technical Skills
Naming: FirstName_LastName_ATC_Resume
Consistency
Length: 1â2 pages (max 2 for senior controllers)
Date Format: MM/YYYY
Location Format: City, State (e.g., Atlanta, GA)
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use FAAâapproved job titles
- Quantify every achievement with numbers
- Apply MM/YYYY date format consistently
- Include all relevant certifications and ratings
- Add safety metrics such as zero incidents
- Use clear section headings
- Save as PDF with searchable text
- Proofread for aviation terminology
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: Taleo, iCIMS, Workday, Greenhouse, SmartRecruiters
Keyword Strategy: Use FAAâapproved titles, certifications, and safety metrics such as 'Zero incidents', 'onâtime performance', 'traffic volume'.
Heading Format: Use clear headings like 'Certifications', 'Work Experience', 'Key Achievements' to help ATS parse sections.
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current Air Traffic Controller resume text
- Standardize titles
- Convert duties to quantified achievements
- Apply correct date format
- Insert missing FAA keywords
- Optimize for ATS keywords
Ready to clear the runway? Let Resumly polish your ATC resume today!
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