RESUME MISTAKES
Avoid Costly Resume Mistakes as an Appraiser
Learn the exact fixes that get your appraisal expertise noticed by hiring managers and ATS.
How This Page Helps
Help professional appraisers identify and correct resume errors that keep them from landing their next valuation role.
Identify high‑impact errors specific to appraisal industry
Learn ATS‑compatible formatting
See before‑and‑after resume snippets
Apply quick fixes with our interactive workshop
Download a printable checklist
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Missing Professional License DetailsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers can’t verify your credentials
- ATS may filter out unlicensed candidates
How to fix
- Add a dedicated 'Licenses & Certifications' section
- List state license number, issuing authority, and expiration date
❌ Before
Certified Residential Appraiser
✓ After
Certified Residential Appraiser – License #CA-123456, State of California, Expires 12/2026
ATS Tip
Use exact phrase 'Certified Residential Appraiser' and include 'License' keyword.
Detection Rules
Search for 'license' or 'certified' missing
Check for empty Certifications section
Resumly Tip
Resumly flags missing license numbers and suggests a standard format.
Vague Job DescriptionsMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Fails to demonstrate appraisal expertise
- Reduces keyword match for valuation terms
How to fix
- Quantify property types and values appraised
- Include specific software (e.g., CoStar, Argus) and methodologies used
❌ Before
Appraiser at XYZ Corp – performed property valuations.
✓ After
Appraiser, XYZ Corp – Conducted 150+ residential and commercial property valuations totaling $45M, utilizing CoStar and Argus for market analysis and CMA reports.
ATS Tip
Incorporate keywords like 'residential', 'commercial', 'CMA', 'market analysis'.
Detection Rules
Look for generic verbs without numbers
Check for missing industry tools
Resumly Tip
Resumly highlights generic bullet points and suggests adding metrics.
Improper Date FormattingLOW
Why it hurts
- ATS may misinterpret employment timeline
- Hiring managers can’t quickly assess experience length
How to fix
- Use consistent month‑year format (MM/YYYY)
- Align dates to the right side of the page
❌ Before
Jan 2020 – Present
✓ After
01/2020 – Present
ATS Tip
Standardize all dates to MM/YYYY for ATS parsing.
Detection Rules
Detect dates not matching MM/YYYY pattern
Identify mixed month name and numeric formats
Resumly Tip
Resumly auto‑converts varied date styles to the recommended format.
Overly Long ResumeMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers lose interest after first page
- ATS may truncate beyond 2 pages
How to fix
- Limit to 2 pages for <10 years experience
- Prioritize recent, relevant roles
- Remove outdated internships
❌ Before
5‑page resume with early career details.
✓ After
2‑page resume focusing on last 8 years of appraisal experience.
ATS Tip
Keep core sections within 2 pages; ATS typically reads first 2 pages only.
Detection Rules
Count total pages >2
Identify sections older than 10 years
Resumly Tip
Resumly suggests trimming older experience and consolidating bullet points.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Contact Information, Professional Summary, Licenses & Certifications, Core Competencies, Professional Experience, Education, Professional Affiliations
Naming: FirstName_LastName_Appraiser_Resume
Consistency
Length: 2 pages for up to 10 years of experience; 1 page for <5 years
Date Format: MM/YYYY
Location Format: City, State
Resume Quality Checklist
- Include license number
- Use quantifiable achievements
- Standardize dates to MM/YYYY
- Limit resume to 2 pages
- Add relevant appraisal software keywords
- Proofread for spelling and grammar
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: Taleo, iCIMS, Greenhouse, Workday
Keyword Strategy: Include terms like 'property valuation', 'CMA', 'market analysis', 'residential', 'commercial', 'CoStar', 'Argus', 'license', 'certified appraiser'
Heading Format: Use standard headings such as 'Professional Experience', 'Licenses & Certifications', 'Core Competencies'
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current appraiser resume text
- Standardize date format
- Add missing license details
- Insert quantifiable metrics
- Trim to 2 pages
- Optimize keywords for appraisal industry
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