RESUME MISTAKES
Transform Your Anthropologist Resume
Avoid common pitfalls and highlight the research, fieldwork, and cultural insight that set you apart.
How This Page Helps
This guide helps anthropologists identify frequent resume mistakes, understand why they hurt your candidacy, and apply concrete fixes that satisfy both hiring managers and ATS platforms.
Spot jargon that confuses recruiters
Showcase fieldwork and data analysis clearly
Align your resume with academic and corporate keywords
Create a clean, ATS‑friendly layout
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Using Academic Jargon Instead of Plain LanguageHIGH
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers outside academia may not understand specialized terms
- ATS may not match jargon to standard keywords
- Clutters the resume with unnecessary complexity
How to fix
- Replace discipline‑specific terms with universally understood equivalents
- Focus on outcomes and impact rather than theory
- Use action verbs and measurable results
❌ Before
Conducted ethnoarchaeological excavations employing diachronic stratigraphic analysis to elucidate sociocultural transitions.
✓ After
Led archaeological digs that uncovered 15% more artifacts, revealing key cultural shifts over 200 years.
ATS Tip
Include keywords like "field research," "data analysis," "cultural assessment"
Detection Rules
Contains words like "diachronic," "ethnoarchaeological," "stratigraphic"
Resumly Tip
Swap academic buzzwords for clear, results‑focused language that hiring managers instantly grasp.
Omitting Concrete Fieldwork DetailsMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Field experience is a core credential for anthropologists
- Vague descriptions make it hard to assess scope and impact
- ATS may miss critical skill keywords
How to fix
- List project name, location, dates, and your specific role
- Quantify findings (e.g., number of interviews, artifacts cataloged)
- Highlight methodologies used
❌ Before
Participated in research project in Southeast Asia.
✓ After
Conducted 30+ semi‑structured interviews in rural Vietnam, documenting oral histories that informed a peer‑reviewed article on kinship patterns.
ATS Tip
Add terms such as "qualitative interviews," "participant observation," "ethnography"
Detection Rules
Short phrases lacking metrics or methodology
Resumly Tip
Turn brief statements into detailed bullet points that showcase the depth of your fieldwork.
Neglecting Transferable Analytical SkillsMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Employers in market research, UX, NGOs value data analysis and cultural insight
- Resume may appear too niche for non‑academic roles
- ATS filters for skills like "data visualization" or "statistical analysis"
How to fix
- Create a dedicated "Analytical Skills" subsection
- Mention software (e.g., NVivo, SPSS, R) and outcomes
❌ Before
Analyzed cultural data.
✓ After
Analyzed qualitative data using NVivo, producing thematic reports that increased stakeholder engagement by 25%.
ATS Tip
Include keywords: "data analysis," "NVivo," "statistical modeling," "reporting"
Detection Rules
Generic skill statements without tools or results
Resumly Tip
Show the tools and measurable impact behind your analytical work.
Using Non‑Standard Section HeadingsLOW
Why it hurts
- ATS often scans for conventional headings like "Experience" or "Education"
- Hiring managers may overlook sections with creative titles
How to fix
- Stick to standard headings: "Professional Experience," "Education," "Research Projects," "Publications"
- If you want flair, add a brief tagline underneath
❌ Before
My Adventures in the Field
✓ After
Professional Experience
ATS Tip
Use headings recognized by most ATS parsers
Detection Rules
Creative or ambiguous section titles
Resumly Tip
Standard headings ensure both humans and machines find your key information quickly.
Forgetting to Tailor Keywords to the Target RoleHIGH
Why it hurts
- Each employer prioritizes different competencies (e.g., "cultural consulting" vs. "archaeological preservation")
- ATS may reject resumes lacking role‑specific keywords
How to fix
- Review the job description and extract 5–7 core keywords
- Integrate them naturally throughout your bullet points
❌ Before
Responsible for cultural research.
✓ After
Led cultural research for a heritage preservation project, applying UNESCO guidelines to protect 12 historic sites.
ATS Tip
Match terms like "heritage preservation," "UNESCO guidelines," "cultural resource management"
Detection Rules
Generic responsibilities without job‑specific language
Resumly Tip
Keyword‑tailoring boosts both ATS match rate and recruiter relevance.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Contact Information, Professional Summary, Research Experience, Fieldwork Projects, Publications, Education, Skills, Certifications, Professional Affiliations
Naming: FirstName_LastName_Anthropologist_Resume.pdf
Consistency
Length: 1–2 pages for early‑career, up to 3 pages for senior researchers
Date Format: MMM YYYY (e.g., Jan 2022)
Location Format: City, State/Country
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use a clear, professional font (e.g., Calibri 11pt)
- Include a concise 2‑sentence summary highlighting expertise
- List fieldwork with location, dates, and outcomes
- Quantify research impact wherever possible
- Incorporate at least 5 job‑specific keywords
- Save as PDF with a clean file name
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: iCIMS, Greenhouse, Workday, Lever
Keyword Strategy: cultural analysis, ethnographic research, stakeholder engagement, data visualization, heritage preservation
Heading Format: Use standard headings like "Research Experience" and "Publications"
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste a bullet point from your current resume
- Replace jargon with plain language
- Add measurable results
- Insert relevant software/tools
- Align with target‑job keywords
Ready to turn your resume into a hiring magnet?
Upgrade to Resumly Pro
